The NHL has confirmed Canada’s 23-man roster for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in February:
F Sam Bennett (Panthers)
F Anthony Cirelli (Lightning)
F Sidney Crosby (Penguins)
F Brandon Hagel (Lightning)
F Seth Jarvis (Hurricanes)
F Travis Konecny (Flyers)
F Nathan MacKinnon (Avalanche)
F Brad Marchand (Bruins)
F Mitch Marner (Maple Leafs)
F Connor McDavid (Oilers)
F Brayden Point (Lightning)
F Sam Reinhart (Panthers)
F Mark Stone (Golden Knights)
D Cale Makar (Avalanche)
D Josh Morrissey (Jets)
D Colton Parayko (Blues)
D Alex Pietrangelo (Golden Knights)
D Travis Sanheim (Flyers)
D Shea Theodore (Golden Knights)
D Devon Toews (Avalanche)
G Jordan Binnington (Blues)
G Adin Hill (Golden Knights)
G Sam Montembeault (Canadiens)
It’s a roster out of a fantasy draft. This roster includes six Hart Memorial Trophy winners, one Norris Trophy winner, and 20 Stanley Cup rings. There will be no shortage of firepower when this collection of players takes the ice.
It’ll be difficult for any of the other three international teams to match up against McDavid who will assuredly be Team Canada’s first-line center. The last time McDavid suited up for the Canadians came back during the 2018 IIHF World Championships. He scored five goals and 17 points in 10 games a few weeks before signing his eight-year, $100MM extension with the Oilers.
The other Canadian forward to look out for will be ’Captain Canada’ himself. Crosby’s exploits on the internal stage are well known. He scored the gold-medal-clinching goal in the 2010 Olympic Games against the United States and followed it up with another gold medal four years later in Sochi. There are not many awards Crosby has left to win but the 4 Nations Face-Off could be one of them.
Things are similarly in good shape on the blue line. Canada is bringing multiple defensive pairings that play together on their NHL clubs, giving them a seamless transition into international hockey. The group of defensemen is headlined by Makar who, despite already having a Norris, Calder, and Conn Smythe Trophy under his belt is the favorite to win the Norris Trophy this year with eight goals and 32 points in 26 games.
Canada’s only question mark comes between the pipes. Gone are the days when Canada could rely on legendary netminders such as Martin Brodeur, Marc-Andre Fleury, Roberto Luongo, or Carey Price. The trio of Binnington, Hill, and Montembeault have a combined save percentage of .900 this year with their respective teams and may have Canada intertwined in some high-scoring affairs. Still, the rich continue to stay rich when it comes to international hockey.
I would say all these rosters are going to change if players are injured or nursing injuries and their teams will not want them to play. Could be alot of subs
Montemblow over Logan Thompson?? Am I the only one thinking this?
He’s just on the team cause the games are being played in Montreal.
I am a Habs fan, and I do think he’s a good goalie
But the way he’s played this year, you’re correct in thinking there are better choices that could have been made.
I’m glad that Hagel & Cirelli are getting their proper recognition as the duo have been one of the best 2-way duos in the league.
My only concern is I don’t want Point, Hagel, Cirelli & Hedman (on the Swedish team) getting possibly injured during this rather pointless patriotism exhibition series as the regular season is more important than this little event.
Forgot about Guentzel as well on the USA team. 5 Bolts players in this series.
5 Bolts and none from that horrible 2nd place Washington Capitals. Well at least the Caps have locker room motivational material for the stretch run.
Gold.
Bennett and cirelli and Hagel. yikes. this isn’t your 80s, 90s or 2000s team canada
Don’t get this roster set up until you look at who put it together, then it makes a lot of sense (I guess). Cirelli, Hagel, Point, Marchand, Parayko, and Binnington are tell tails to where the favouritism is going. Then add Sanheim, Theodore, Jarvis and Montembault? Not sure what’s going on, but I guess the top end scoring will hide a lot. At least McDavid made Crosby captain. There is always that.
Point, Marchand, Theodore, and Binnington were always locks to be on the team, and it was always going to be either Montembault or Thompson for third string goalie. The other picks are a bit more questionable, but both Hagel and Cirelli are having great years and are good defensively. The only real head-scratchers are Jarvis and Sanheim.
Dude, you’re actually questioning why Point is on team Canada, really lol?!?…Point is one of the best scorers in the league & leads the league in PP goals let alone is the best bumper player in the league. Don’t even get me started on his high end speed. To question why Point is on the team is downright ridiculous.
As for Hagel & Cirelli, that 2-way duo are having great seasons & are highly effective on offense & defense. Actually, it’s about time they got recognized for being the high quality star players they truly are.
I’m not questioning Point in general, I’m just questioning how the roster was built. Quite a bit of favouritism going on here. The team builders of Canada should NOT be a GM of an NHL team. Too much bias.
The team builders for these teams were GMs of current NHL teams. For example, GM Doug Armstrong of the St. Louis Blues was the primary GM for team Canada. The Assistant GM of team Canada was GM Julien BriseBois of the Tampa Bay Lightning. There was also 2 consultants for team Canada in GMs Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins & Kyle Dubas of the Pittsburgh Penguins. There was a number of people involved in picking these players for these teams which are all people who are GMs & Coaches in the NHL now.
I don’t think favoritism was key in the decisions. It was more in trying to build the best all around teams among the best players. Unfortunately, some players will be left off because there is only so many spots available.
We’re not looking for the best players, Craig. We’re looking for the right ones.
History shows need people who accept smaller roles then they usually play. Jarvis is one surprise had not much about him last few days. reality montembault is third goalie unless He clears out plays others next couple months . They wanted someone from Quebec on team.
See that’s politics. Monty should not be there, but they needed a French player. Has nothing to do with how good you are…it’s who you know and who likes you. I’m not questioning the players in general. They are all good players in their own rights (except USA). I’m questioning the fact that other players are probably more deserving and suited to be on the team. Hopefully I eat my words, and that’s totally fine.
Very interesting decisions on both sides of the border here. Both teams taking more well-rounded/defensive forwards (USA: Trocheck, Nelson; Canada: Cirelli, Hagel) over likely superior firepower (USA: Thompson, Caufield, Robertson; Canada: Scheifele, Bedard, Dylan Strome). At the end of the day though, despite the surprises, both forward groups are stacked.
But the fact that Parayko and Sanheim made it over the likes of Hamilton, Dobson, Bouchard and Reilly is astonishing. (Not to mention Montembeault over Thompson.)
Good team. The defensive pairings make sense and should give Canada an advantage.
Goal is a big question mark.
Tons and tons of speed. A Point/McDavid/NMK first line would be utterly ridiculous on that front.