The Golden Knights get what they deserve with the 4 Nations lines

Imagine this scenario, dear reader. You're Mark Stone in an alternate universe where the Vegas Golden Knights and the NHL don't exist. I know, that would be a cruel world to live in. But imagine for a second you're the Winnipeg native and you're working hard. You work so hard that you earn yourself a promotion.

Feels good, right? Your buddy (let's call him Jack Eichel) earned that same promotion with you. Now you two are working on the big sales project together, ready to live a better life. That sounds nice and all from an alternate world perspective. However, this universe has the Golden Knights and there are five representatives heading to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

February 12 is when the fun starts when Canada plays Sweden in Montreal. The Canadians have dealt with a heavy dosage of turmoil on the hockey front, including underperforming teams at the World Junior Championships and sexual abuse scandals. Can they shake these demons at the upcoming tournament and win it all?

Anyway, the Golden Knights got their just rewards for performing well during the 2024-25 season. Eichel (19 goals, 50 assists) and Stone have earned their keep in the lineup, playing with the best players in the league. But let's start with the Captain, who's been a staple of Vegas lineups. Who's he playing with for the upcoming showcase?

Mark Stone gets to play with Sidney Crosby

Mark Stone isn't playing for Team Canada's top line for the upcoming 4 Nations tournament. However, he does have some elite company on his line for Day 1.

In case you've lived under a boulder, Sidney Crosby has been a generational player for the NHL. He's won three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and scored 609 goals and 1,045 assists. The Nova Scotia native also has two Maurice Richard trophies, three Ted Lindsay trophies, two Hart Memorial trophies, two Art Ross trophies, and two Conn Smythe trophies to his name. Talk about an impressive resume. You're hired, Sid the Kid!

Then there's the reigning Hart Memorial trophy winner, Nathan MacKinnon. The Colorado Avalanche center leads the NHL in points (87) and assists (66), making him a threat to go back-to-back. It's no wonder the Avalanche are in the thick of a playoff race (68 points entering the break).

As it stands, Stone has some elite company joining him. Of course, it's part of a deep forward group for Team Canada, where names like Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner make the team a high-scoring threat. But expect the Vegas Golden Knights forward to join the fun and add some sick passes and shots.

What about the other Vegas Golden Knights?

Shea Theodore was paired with Drew Doughty for the first day, who replaced... Alex Pietrangelo. If Pietrangelo stayed in the showcase, imagine him getting paired with his Golden Knights teammate. It would've been a nice callback for Vegas fans.

Meanwhile, Jack Eichel was recognized for his talents in 2024-25 by being on the top line with Winnipeg's Kyle Connor and Florida's Matthew Tkachuk. Connor has 30 goals and 69 points (nice) while Tkachuk has 22 goals and 57 points.

Meanwhile, Noah Hanifin is on the third pairing alongside Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild. The 22-year-old has six goals and 16 assists in 2024-25, making him one of the most underrated blue liners. How will the Boston native gel with Faber in this pairing? Stay tuned.

Vegas Golden Knights fans want a clean 4 Nations showcase without any injuries. They're in the middle of a Stanley Cup run and could use an immaculate bill of health. They're also hoping their stars light the lamp and do well for their respective nations. After all, civic pride is always a good thing, right?