There's plenty of high-octane star power in the lineups for Canada, Finland, Sweden and the U.S. But don’t sleep on these players who could turn the tide of the tournament.
As the puck drops on the 4 Nations Face-Off, each team is stacked with skill and talent.
There are plenty of household names playing in this tournament, such as Connor McDavid for Canada and Auston Matthews for the United States. But there are also at least a couple of under-the-radar players on each team who have the potential to rise and make a significant impact.
Canada: Brandon Hagel, LW
Hagel has helped fill the void in Tampa Bay since franchise legend Steven Stamkos left for Nashville this past off-season. Hagel went into the 4 Nations Face-Off on a hot streak, with eight points in his previous five games.
He’s one of three Tampa Bay players on Canada’s roster, joined by Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point. Hagel can be a difference-maker, given his ability to create space and drive to the net for a goal. His speed and grunt work will help his linemates and Team Canada thrive throughout the tournament.
Honorable Mention: Adin Hill, G
Canada’s goalie choices for the tournament have certainly turned some heads in the hockey world, especially with the surprise that Washington’s Logan Thompson wasn’t named to the team.
Jordan Binnington is Canada’s starting goalie. But Hill could be a silver lining if Binnington's not good enough. He helped the Vegas Golden Knights secure their first Stanley Cup in 2023. In 14 high-pressure playoff games, Hill won 11 times and recorded a .932 save percentage with two shutouts. He might get another chance to deliver another high-pressure performance, this time on the international stage, if Canada needs a backup savior in net.
USA: Zach Werenski, D
Werenski leads Columbus in assists and points, and he’s tied for third-most on the team in goals – that’s pretty good for a defenseman. Not to mention, he’s tied for second in scoring among all NHL D-men and ranks second in the league in goals and assists by blueliners.
The 27-year-old is on pace to smash his career highs in goals, assists and points, and he’s a sneaky candidate for the Norris Trophy this year. With Vancouver captain and reigning Norris winner Quinn Hughes not playing in the tournament, Werenski has a chance to be a real asset for the Americans on the blueline.
Honorable Mention: Jake Guentzel, LW
Guentzel is set to dawn the red, white and blue for the first time in his professional career. The 30-year-old was traded from the Carolina Hurricanes to the Tampa Bay Lightning last June. He’s currently second among Lightning players in goals and sits in the top five on the team in assists and points.
Guentzel doesn’t seem to have the “new team” jitters, as he has 54 points in 54 games this season with Tampa Bay. If Guentzel can adapt to a new team in Tampa Bay, he shouldn’t have a problem in his first international tournament.
Finland: Artturi Lehkonen, LW
Lehkonen hasn’t played a full 82-game season since 2018-19, when he was a member of the Montreal Canadiens. In 566 NHL games, he has 276 points. That’s decent output, especially as he’s dealt with several injuries throughout his career.
This season, Lehkonen has 23 goals, 21 of which have come at even strength. During the Avs’ Cup run in 2022, Lehkonen had 14 points in 20 games, so he knows how to perform in big-game situations.
Honorable Mention: Teuvo Teravainen, C
Teravainen is second on the Chicago Blackhawks in assists (28) and points (40), behind only young talent Connor Bedard in both categories. In 30 games wearing the Finnish jersey, Teravainen's 14 points in eight games during the 2018 World Championship helped him finish that tournament in the top five in scoring. If Teravainen keeps up his international pace of play, he can certainly make an impact on the ice.
Sweden: Jesper Bratt, LW
Bratt has surely impressed the hockey world with his numbers this season. He has 64 points in 57 games and ranks in the top 10 in the league for assists. He’s also in the top 10 in the league in power-play points.
Bratt had a career-high 83 points last season, and he’s picked up where he left off. Given his production this year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bratt slotted in the top six and on one of the power-play units for the Swedes to help boost their offense.
Honorable Mention: Filip Gustavsson, G
Gustavsson has 22 wins so far this season, which ranks among the league leaders. Not to mention, he’s tied for first in goalie goals. In October, he became the 15th goalie in NHL history to score a goal when he shot the puck into an empty net in Minnesota’s 4-1 win over St. Louis. If any goalie were to score a goal during this tournament, the odds might favor Gustavsson.
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