The 4 Nations Face-Off is just about here, and on Friday, Sweden and Finland gave us our first look at some players who will be suiting up for the tournament.
The NHL announced the first six players who will be playing for the two European countries during the inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Finland First Six
G Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators)
D Esa Lindell (Dallas Stars)
D Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)
F Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers)
F Mikko Rantanen (Colorado Avalanche)
F Sebastian Aho (Carolina Hurricanes)
Sweden First Six
D Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)
D Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins)
D Gustav Forsling (Florida Panthers)
F Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators)
F Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers)
F William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Finland’s Barkov and Sweden’s Forsling got the good news four days after capturing the Stanley Cup with Florida.
The news for Saros came hours after Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported he is closing in on an eight-year extension with the Predators.
Finland will be led by head coach Antti Pennanen, the current bench boss for Ilves of Liiga, the top professional league in Finland.
Sweden has yet to announce its head coach for the tournament.
The United States and Canada will reveal their first six players later Friday.
The tournament runs Feb. 12-20, 2025 in Montreal and Boston. All games will be on Sportsnet.
Sweden and Finland have announced the first six players who will represent their countries in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The tournament, which will take place in Helsinki, Finland, will feature teams from Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States competing for international bragging rights.
For Team Sweden, the roster includes some familiar faces as well as some up-and-coming talent. Among the players selected are forwards Elias Pettersson and Gabriel Landeskog, both of whom have had successful seasons in the NHL. Defensemen Rasmus Dahlin and Victor Hedman will also be suiting up for Team Sweden, bringing a strong defensive presence to the team. In goal, Sweden will be relying on the skills of goaltenders Robin Lehner and Jacob Markstrom to keep the puck out of their net.
On the Finnish side, the roster is equally impressive. Forwards Patrik Laine and Aleksander Barkov will be leading the charge for Team Finland, with both players known for their scoring abilities. Defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Olli Maatta will be tasked with shutting down the opposition’s top lines, while goaltenders Tuukka Rask and Juuse Saros will be looking to stand tall between the pipes.
The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament promises to be an exciting showcase of international hockey talent, with some of the best players from around the world competing for glory. Fans can expect fast-paced action, highlight-reel goals, and jaw-dropping saves as these four powerhouse teams battle it out on the ice.
Stay tuned for more updates on the tournament rosters and matchups as the competition draws closer. Sweden and Finland are sure to put up a strong fight as they look to come out on top in this prestigious international hockey event.