We are just days away from learning who will represent Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The highly anticipated roster will be unveiled Wednesday night on Sportsnet, giving us answers to the many debates that have been held from coast to coast.
Will this team be all-skill? Or will some sandpaper be mixed in?
Will the defence be an even right-left split? Or will some players be asked to play on their off-side?
And who will start in net?
We already know Sidney Crosby, Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar, Brad Marchand, Connor McDavid, and Brayden Point will be on the team.
But before the rest of the names are announced, let’s take one more look at who is trending up and down for the final spots.
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4 Nations Roster Reveal show
Sportsnet unveils the full cast of superstars set to represent their countries at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Watch the Canada and USA roster reveals on Dec. 4 before Wednesday Night Hockey at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT.
Statistics courtesy: NHL.com and Natural Stat Trick.
FORWARDS
Trending Up
Mitch Marner and John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs
Marner has stepped up in a big way this season, especially with Auston Matthews unavailable, scoring 31 points in 23 games. Tavares has played for Canada at every possible level and with 21 points in 22 games this season, he remains in contention this time around at age 34.
Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers
Reinhart hasn’t slowed down after a season to remember last year and leads the NHL with 18 goals. Bennett is one of the players Canada may turn to to provide a physical edge, but he also has some offensive talent, with 23 points in 24 games.
Mark Scheifele, Winnipeg Jets
The NHL’s best team has been getting scoring from plenty of people but Scheifele has been one of the leaders with 12 goals and 26 points. Canada’s centre depth might be the best in the tournament but Scheifele can slide to the wing to provide some secondary scoring.
Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers
Konecny is coming off back-to-back 30-goal seasons and is on pace to crack 40 for the first time this year. His 20 points in 14 November games were tied for fifth-best in the league with Jack Eichel and Kirill Kaprizov.
Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
Team Canada coach Jon Cooper knows Cirelli and Hagel well and trusts them in all situations, often on the same line. Cirelli (10 goals, 23 points) and Hagel (10 goals, 29 points) are both on pace to set career highs in scoring this year.
Matt Duchene, Dallas Stars
Duchene has been leading the way offensively in Dallas while some of his teammates navigate slow starts. The 2014 Olympic gold medalist has 27 points in 22 games to lead the Stars, putting him on pace to set a new career-high in scoring at age 33.
Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals
While much has been made about Alex Ovechkin’s goal-record chase, plenty of other Capitals have stepped up, too. Strome has emerged as an elite set-up man this season with 26 assists and 34 points already. Wilson continues to be one of the more feared hitters in the game, but his nine goals and 19 points in 24 games so far have him on pace to set a new career-high offensively, too.
Alexis Lafrenière, New York Rangers
Lafrenière is a rising star as a scoring winger who will certainly be part of Team Canada’s future plans. This season he’s on pace to crack the 30-goal and 60-point marks for the first time in his career.
Trending Down
Zach Hyman, Edmonton Oilers
Hyman has not been able to replicate the success he had last year when he scored 54 goals. Through 20 games so far, he has just three goals and eight points. Now with an injury keeping him off the ice, he’s run out of time to earn his way back onto this team.
Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights
Stone last played on Nov. 6 due to a lower-body injury, a concern that has hovered over his career for years now. He is one of Canada’s more impactful wingers when healthy, but will management be willing to take that risk for a short best-on-best tournament?
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
While we can all dream about a line featuring Crosby, McDavid and Bedard, the reality is Chicago’s superstar is stuck in a sophomore slump. With just four goals and 17 points in 23 games, we’ll see if he’s done enough to crack this team.
DEFENCEMEN
Trending Up
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets
Morrissey is tied for fourth in defenceman scoring with 22 points this season as a major contributor to the NHL’s best team. His analytics have also been improving in November and he’s now up to a 47.61 per cent expected goals rate.
Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights
Pietrangelo would be one of the more experienced blueliners on Team Canada but even as he nears age 35, he’s showing he can still make an impact. Theodore’s calling card is his offence and with 18 points in 24 games this season he’s off to a great start.
Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres
Power contributes to both special teams and has 15 points this season, putting him almost halfway to his previous career-high in scoring. He just turned 22 in November and figures to play a larger role for Canada in future tournaments.
Brandon Montour, Seattle Kraken
Montour is getting his first taste of being a No. 1 defenceman after signing a big contract in Seattle and he’s lived up to the billing. The 30-year-old has a 52.25 per cent expected goal rate and isn’t afraid to throw a hit when called upon.
Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils
Hamilton continues to make strides this season coming off an injury-ravaged 2023-24. The six-foot-six right shot has 19 points and a 52.32 per cent expected goals rate in 27 games.
Trending Down
Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche
Toews has an advantage as Cale Makar’s primary partner and that should be enough to get him on the team. But he has just seven points in 21 games, which is concerning after three straight 50-point seasons.
Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
Bouchard was very hot and cold offensively in November. He had 11 points in 13 games during the month, but those 11 came in just five games. With so many other power play leaders available to Team Canada, Bouchard hasn’t been able to separate himself from the group with his play so far.
Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs
Another offence-first defenceman, Rielly’s scoring (four goals, 14 points) just hasn’t matched the others competing for spots on the left side so far. Without a path to powerplay time, it will be difficult for Rielly to crack the final seven.
GOALTENDERS
Trending Up
Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals
Thompson asked for a trade out of Vegas to escape Adin Hill’s shadow and now has a chance to surpass his former tandem mate for Canada’s No. 1 spot. Thompson has 10 wins in 12 starts this season and his .911 save percentage ranks second among Canadian starting goaltenders.
Jordan Binnington, St. Louis Blues
Binnington is a former Stanley Cup champion and the winningest goalie in Blues history. He has a .899 save percentage this season but just seven wins in 19 appearances.
Adin Hill, Vegas Golden Knights
Hill had a disastrous start to the season but is climbing back up the Canadian goaltender ranks. His save percentage is up to .894 now after winning six of 10 starts in November.
Cam Talbot, Detroit Red Wings
Talbot is now on his eighth NHL team and continues to be a steady presence. His .916 save percentage leads all Canadian goaltenders two months into the season.
Marc-Andre Fleury, Minnesota Wild
Fleury is a future Hall of Famer who just turned 40 and has said this will be his last season. He’s been effective in six starts as a backup in Minnesota, collecting five wins and a .905 save percentage.
Trending Down
Stuart Skinner, Edmonton Oilers
Skinner built up a lot of goodwill coming within one win of the Stanley Cup last spring but he still hasn’t separated himself as an elite starting goaltender. The Oilers are tied for third in the Pacific Division and Skinner’s .887 save percentage in 16 starts is one of the reasons why.
Samuel Montembeault, Montreal Canadiens
Montembeault’s season has featured some highs (two shutouts) and some lows (three times pulled). His .897 save percentage is decent among Canadian goaltenders but he hasn’t done enough to overcome the playoff-experience edge the other goalies have.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Brayden Point-Connor McDavid-Mitch Marner
Sam Reinhart-Nathan MacKinnon-Mark Scheifele
Brad Marchand-Sidney Crosby-Travis Konecny
Brandon Hagel-Anthony Cirelli-Mark Stone
Connor Bedard
Defence
Devon Toews-Cale Makar
Shea Theodore-Alex Pietrangelo
Josh Morrissey-Dougie Hamilton
Drew Doughty*
Goaltenders
Logan Thompson
Jordan Binnington
Adin Hill
*Doughty has yet to play this season due to a broken ankle but is expected to return to the ice before the tournament begins.
