Ex-NHLer opines on how 4 Nations Face-Off could impact Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews' legacies

The 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off, set for Feb. 12 to Feb. 20, has sparked debate about its importance. Former NHL player Mike Johnson shared his thoughts on how it might affect the legacies of stars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Jack Eichel.

Talking on the "First Up with Korolnek & Colaiacovo" podcast on Thursday, Johnson said,

"Of course the 4 Nations is going to pale in comparison to the Olympics," Mike Johnson said. "But if you're telling me that Canada is playing US or Sweden with a chance to win it, those great players are going to play as hard as they can..."

The tournament will replace the NHL All-Star Game in 2025. It will be hosted in Montreal and Boston and features teams from Canada, the U.S., Finland, and Sweden. A round-robin format will decide the top two teams, which will then play in a final.

"When it comes to - 'Will it feel a little different? Yes," Johnson added. "Its not quite a true World Cup but its something and for the best players they want to win for their countries."

"I think Austin Mathews, Conor McDavid, Jack Eichel want to play for their countries and they want to win for their countries as part of their legacy, so I expect them to try as hard as they can." he concluded.

Fans can watch the 4 Nations' Faceoff on TNT, ESPN, and ABC in the US and Sportsnet and TVA in Canada.

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Schedule of NHL 4 Nations Face-Off games in Montreal and Boston

The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off schedule includes:

Montreal (Bell Centre)

• Feb 12, 8 PM: CAN vs. SWE
• Feb 13, 8 pm: USA vs. FIN
• Feb 15, 1 PM: FIN vs. SWE
• Feb 15, 8 PM: USA vs. CAN

Boston (TD Garden)

• Feb 17, 1 PM: CAN vs. FIN
• Feb 17, 8 PM: SWE vs. USA
• Feb 20, 8 PM: Championship Game

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Team Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off

Team Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off includes top players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Brad Marchand.

Forward

• Zach Hyman - Connor McDavid - Sam Reinhart
• Brad Marchand - Sidney Crosby - Nathan MacKinnon
• Brandon Hagel - Brayden Point - Mitch Marner
• Travis Konecny - Mark Scheifele - Steven Stamkos

Additional forward: Connor Bedard

On defense, top NHL players like Cale Makar and Devon Toews have found their names.

Defenseman

• Devon Toews - Cale Makar
• Noah Dobson - Evan Bouchard
• Shea Theodore - Alex Pietrangelo

Additional Defenseman: Josh Morrissey

Logan Thompson, Adin Hill, and Cam Talbot have been selected as goalies. Thompson has been impressive this season and Hill brings Stanley Cup experience. Canada has strong forwards and defense, but goaltending is a concern. The final roster will be announced on Dec. 2.