Is playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off even worth it?

The 4 Nations Face-Off is coming up on February 12, pitting, well, four nations against each other. Fans will see a round-robin affair between Canada, Sweden, Finland, and the United States. Cue up "Free Bird" by Lynard Skynard because it's time to show the other three nations how the Americans play on the ice.

While the appeal of playing for national pride sounds appealing, there are already some players dropping out of the competition. For example, William Karlsson went from a simple maintenance day to being out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He appears to be headed towards missing the February showcase, considering week-to-week in Golden Knights terms means you should probably hang it up.

But Alex Pietrangelo has made his intentions clear on the international version of the All-Star Game. The Canadian defenseman won't appear in the showcase because he's dealing with an ailment. Of course, the discourse of Canadian hockey fans didn't take it well, prompting quotes such as...

"He HaTeS cAnAdA."

While I'm not one to argue a man's patriotism or whether he's injured or not, it shouldn't surprise people that Pietrangelo is resting up. January and February are generally seen as months where the slog of hockey hits. Injuries start piling up and players need to rest. It's part of why the Golden Knights have an all-time record of 42-34-11 in January.

Could there be more dropouts from the 4 Nations Face-Off?

The reaction to Pietrangelo opting out has been mixed. On one hand, fans and analysts are worried about the NHL's reputation being hampered by its stars dropping out. What happens if Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Auston Matthews pull out of the 4 Nations Face-Off? It would hurt the league if the biggest names didn't participate in the showcase.

On the other hand, not every superstar is being represented in the tournament. You're not seeing names like Kirill Kaprizov and Leon Draisaitl participate, leaving some fan interest hanging. The All-Star Game features the biggest names in the NHL, including Draisaitl and Kaprizov. You want to honor those players with the seasons they're having, which is why having a traditional All-Star Game makes more sense. Then there's this tidbit of information.

Players like Pietrangelo will prioritze resting for the Stanley Cup playoff run. It makes sense to not go to a showcase when your team needs you for that run. Pietrangelo is 35 years old and isn't getting younger. Getting healthy for the upcoming stretch is vital, especially when home-ice advantage is at stake. Therefore, no Face-Off for you.

Pietrangelo opting out means the Golden Knights come first

Resting up for the Vegas Golden Knights takes precedence when facing off against the Edmonton Oilers for the Pacific Division title. Having McDavid and Draisaitl oppose you for the playoffs can be challenging. That's why having a home-ice advantage is crucial, given the Golden Knights have been spectacular at T-Mobile Arena this season (19-6-1). Compare that to the Oilers having a home record of 17-8-1 and the reasoning makes even more sense.

Great teams like the Golden Knights emphasize focusing on putting the franchise first. That means players like Pietrangelo take time to rest up for the long stretch, focusing on helping the team get better. That should come as no surprise to fans who expect another Stanley Cup in the future.

So why not let the defenseman heal for the long haul? It'll help the team prepare for tougher games against teams like the New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. In March, every point counts. You don't want to lose out on having the home-ice advantage for a specific round, which is what happened last season. Fans don't want to see a redux of the Golden Knights being prematurely eliminated by the Dallas Stars in May.