4 Nations Face-Off Preview: Championship Predictions, Round Robin Analysis & MVP Pick

The biggest names in hockey are about to face off in a tournament we haven’t seen anything like in nearly a decade. Starting Wednesday, stars from the USA, Canada, Finland, and Sweden will hit the ice for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

It’s been eight years since we’ve seen this much talent in one place – the last time was the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Each country’s roster reads like an NHL all-star team. Auston Matthews will lead Team USA, Sidney Crosby heads up Team Canada, Aleksander Barkov captains Finland, and Victor Hedman takes charge for Sweden.

The format is straightforward: teams play each other once, with the top two moving on to battle for the championship.

Team USA looks like the team to beat. They’re stacked at every position, but their biggest advantage is in goal. Connor Hellebuyck has been practically unbeatable this season, and backups Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman aren’t too shabby either.

The Americans’ forward lineup is pretty scary too. Matthews and Jack Eichel give them a powerful one-two punch down the middle, while the Tkachuk brothers bring both skill and grit to the wings.

Canada’s got their usual ridiculous talent pool. Imagine trying to defend against Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, and Brayden Point all on the same team. But there’s a catch – their goaltending situation isn’t great. None of their goalies are having particularly strong NHL seasons.

Sweden might surprise some people. They’ve got Filip Gustavsson playing lights-out in goal, and their defense is rock solid. William Nylander’s been on fire this year too. Their only weakness might be depth – their bottom six forwards don’t quite match up with the US and Canada.

Finland’s got their work cut out for them. Losing star defenseman Miro Heiskanen to injury really hurts, and their usual strength – goaltending – isn’t what it used to be with Juuse Saros struggling this season.

The games will be split between Montreal and Boston, bringing international hockey back to two of the sport’s most historic cities.

Most experts are picking Team USA to win it all, with Canada and Sweden battling for that second spot in the final. The tournament kicks off Wednesday night, and hockey fans are in for a treat.

This could be the most talented international tournament we’ve seen in years. With no NHL participation in recent Olympics, it’s a rare chance to see the world’s best going head-to-head while still in their prime.

The championship game is set for next Sunday. Will we see another classic USA-Canada showdown, or will Sweden or Finland crash the party?