Maple Leafs host the Nashville Predators 30 Minutes After Team Canada and Team USA rosters are unveiled.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to host the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night. Adding excitement to the evening, the rosters for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off tournament will be officially announced. The event, a joint initiative by the NHL and NHLPA, is scheduled to take place in Boston and Montreal in February.
The 4 Nations Face-Off will feature teams from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland, showcasing some of the top talent in the NHL on an international stage. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube addressed concerns about the timing of the roster announcement. Team Sweden and Team Finland will unveil their lineups in the early afternoon, But Team Canada and Team USA's roster will be unveiled just an hour before the puck drops against the Predators.
Berube doesn't texpect the timing of the release of the rosters will pose any distraction.
“No, not necessarily. I mean, it is what it is. Like what am I going to do?” Berube remarked. “Congrats if you’re in. If you’re not, well, that’s life. Get ready for the game.”
The Maple Leafs will be well-represented at the tournament. Auston Matthews and William Nylander have already secured spots on Team USA and Team Sweden, respectively, after being named to their national teams back in June. Reports suggest Mitch Marner is expected to join them, earning a spot on Team Canada. If confirmed, Marner’s inclusion would bring another dynamic element to an already stacked Canadian roster.
The tournament, beginning on February 12, will be the first tournament best-on-best featuring NHL players since the 2016 World Cup. While the rosters announced tonight will provide clarity, there’s still a possibility of changes as injuries or other factors could alter team compositions right up until the event begins.
With Matthews, Nylander, and potentially Marner set to represent their nations, the Maple Leafs are poised to have a strong presence on the international stage. It's possible other Leads players can be added to the team as injuries take hold between now and the tournament's start.