November 30th 2024.
Despite facing numerous challenges in their lineup this season, the Colorado Avalanche is gearing up for the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. This will be the first best-on-best international competition in nine years, and the rosters for the event will be announced on Monday.
In a two-part reveal, the teams from Finland and Sweden will be announced on ESPN in the afternoon, followed by the United States and Canada at 4:30 pm MT on TNT. The speculation and excitement among players, including Avs star Mikko Rantanen, about who will make the cut for their respective teams is palpable.
Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews have already secured spots on Team Canada's roster, while Rantanen is one of the "original six" players named to Team Finland. It is likely that Artturi Lehkonen will join Rantanen as the only other addition from the Avalanche. This tournament is exclusively for NHL players, with the aim of building momentum for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where a full 12-team field will be in play. The participation of Russia in the tournament is yet to be determined.
As the rosters are set to be announced, here is our best guess at what the teams could look like:
Team Canada boasts an impressive lineup, with players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon leading the way. The team's depth is evident in their options for left-handed forwards, with Sam Reinhart, Brad Marchand, and Alexis Lafreniere all potentially making the cut. The defense corps is also stacked, with names like Devon Toews, Cale Makar, and Dougie Hamilton leading the charge. The biggest wildcard for Canada is their goaltending, with the possibility of Marc-Andre Fleury making the team for his "vibes."
The United States is also looking like a strong contender, with a talented lineup featuring players like Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Brady Tkachuk. The team's depth at center is impressive, with the potential for Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin, and Vincent Trocheck to all make the final roster. There may be some shuffling around to accommodate the Tkachuk brothers playing together, but the team's chemistry looks promising. On defense, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy are expected to lead the charge, with Connor Hellebuyck as the likely starting goalie.
Team Finland may not have the same star power as some of the other teams, but they are known for their strong teamwork and chemistry. Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen are expected to lead the charge on offense, with names like Kaapo Kakko and Sebastian Aho supporting them. On defense, Esa Lindell and Miro Heiskanen are expected to be the top pairing, with Juuse Saros as the likely starting goalie.
Lastly, Team Sweden is looking like a formidable opponent, with players like Elias Pettersson, William Nylander, and Victor Hedman leading the charge. The team's depth at center is impressive, with names like Mika Zibanejad and William Karlsson in the mix. On defense, the team has a blend of experience and youth, with names like Erik Karlsson and Rasmus Dahlin expected to make the cut. Jacob Markstrom is the likely starting goalie for Sweden.
Overall, all four teams have strong lineups, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the tournament. With the excitement building up and the rosters set to be announced, hockey fans are eagerly waiting to see their favorite players represent their countries on the international stage.
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