The NHL’s 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament begins today with Team Canada taking on Team Sweden. The five-game event takes place over a two-week period starting in Montreal, Quebec (February 12, 13, 15, 2025), ending in Boston, Massachusetts (February 17, 20, 2025). Today’s matchup between Canada and Sweden will be the only guaranteed meeting between these two clubs during this tournament – both teams could face one another in the Championship game on February 20, 2025. The Los Angeles Kings have two skaters participating in the tournament: Forward Adrian Kempe representing Sweden, Defenseman Drew Doughty representing Canada. Kempe was announced as a member of Team Sweden on December 5, 2024, and will wear the no. 10. Kempe’s usual no. 9 will be worn by Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/] Forward Filip Forsberg. Kempe has previously worn the no. 29 for Team Sweden (which was available). During the Kings’ last game before the season break on February 8, 2025, Doughty was announced as a member of Team Canada on the scoreboard at Crypto.com Arena. Doughty will wear no. 89, Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/] Defenseman Cale Makar wearing no. 8. While no. 88 is available, Doughty went with no. 89 for his birth year (1989). Both Kings skaters are eager to compete in this tournament, Doughty already chirping his LA teammate. > “He said, ‘I’ll probably hit you, but I probably won’t run you over.’” – > Adrian Kempe on Drew Doughty chirping him about the tournament. - Kempe is expected to skate with Vancouver Canucks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vancouver-canucks/] Forward Elias Petterson and the aforementioned Forsberg. I’d imagine Team Canada will lean on Doughty to contend with Kempe both on the ice and pre-game preparation where the former can give his teammates the 411 on the latter. “I'll do whatever role [Team Canada] need[s],” said Doughty.. This is not just a matchup between two Kings players. Rather, it’s a matchup between two of the more prominent Kings players. During Doughty’s absence, his usual “A” Alternate Captain patch was distributed between both Kempe and Defenseman Mikey Anderson – Kempe wearing it at home, Anderson on the road. In hindsight, this tournament won’t matter in the long run relative to the NHL season and Stanley Cup Playoffs/Finals. However, it does give both players a chance to have some sort of bragging rights when they return to LA. They'll share a few laughs, a couple cool stories. But ultimately, both Doughty and Kempe know winning this tournament is not the ultimate prize. Puck drop is slated for 5:05 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via TNT. Related Videos: Drew Doughty in the 4 Nations Face-Off WA-LA-4NFO-Doughty4NationsAdd
