Canada vs USA Roster Comparison: Which 4 Nations Face-Off squad looks better on paper? 

The official 4 Nations Face-Off rosters for Team Canada and Team USA were announced on Wednesday. Both the Canadian and American squads are headlined by some of the biggest names in the NHL.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid leads the Canadian team while Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews leads the American team.

However, the most pressing question is: Which squad looks better on paper?

First, the most noticeable aspect of both rosters is the sheer firepower on offer. Team Canada features players like McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, Sidney Crosby and Cale Makar.

On the other hand, the American squad includes Matthews, Jack Hughes, Kyle Connor and the Tkachuk brothers. So, it’s safe to say that there is no shortage of firepower.

As for defense, Makar leads a stacked Team Canada blue line that includes Devon Toews, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore and Josh Morrisey. Team USA, meanwhile, boasts Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Adam Fox and Zach Werenski. However, a slight edge would have to go to the Canadians based on the overall toughness on the blue line.

Moreover, Canada's defense core features several experienced veterans who know what it takes to win at the highest level. That’s something the Americans lack somewhat as the USA roster features a much younger blue line group.

So, that leaves one major area to be the deciding factor in this discussion: Goaltending.

Team USA has the edge over Team Canada in the crease

When looking at the goalies named to the Team USA roster, it’s virtually impossible not to go bonkers. The American squad boasts Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman. The Americans could just throw Hellebuyck in net, take the night off and still have a chance to win.

If Hellebuyck needs a day off, Swayman or Oettinger could go lights out when needed. That sort of depth in the crease is unmatched. Perhaps the only other time such a tandem emerged was when Finland had Tuukka Rask and Pekka Rinne sharing duties.

As for the Canadians, Samuel Monteambeault, Jordan Binnington and Adin Hill are about as good as they come. Montembeault doesn’t have the numbers Binnington and Hill do just because he plays on a poor Montreal Canadiens team. Furthermore, Hill and Binnington are Stanley Cup champions, having led their respective teams on impressive runs.

However, none of the goalies on the Canadian side are as dominant as Hellebuyck. When looking at the trio compiled by the Americans, it’s tough to argue Team USA does not have an advantage over Team Canada here.

As a result, the final verdict is the USA should have the edge over Canada – at least on paper – though both sides are fairly even. So, it comes down to goaltending, and that’s where the Americans get the nod over the Canadians.

Which 4 Nations Face-Off roster do you think looks better between Team USA and Team Canada? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.