The 4 Nations Face-Off is a unique concept taking the place of the All-Star Game this season. It pits four nations against each other for hockey supremacy. Jack Eichel of the Vegas Golden Knights will lead Team U.S.A. against notable adversaries, consisting of Finland, Sweden, and... Canada.
The U.S. side will counter the star power of Canada with names like Eichel, and Auston Matthews. That's a solid group of forwards representing the red, white, and blue. It makes you feel like celebrating by shooting off some fireworks and eating a juicy burger.
But let's put down the burger and pick up some maple syrup and poutine for a second. Everyone knows Eichel will represent the United States alongside the Toronto Maple Leafs megastar. But what about the neighbors up north? Will we see any Golden Knights on Canada's team for the big spectacle?
Fear not, dear reader. There are three names that stand out for the northern neighbor's roster. In fact, these names are seen in numerous projected rosters, making them a common-sense pick among the experts. Therefore, these names shouldn't surprise anybody.
Is it Shea Theodore or Mark Stone? What about Adin Hill? Who's making the roster and representing their nation as proud Canadians in February? Buckle up because these three players are ready to prove why Canada's the best nation for hockey. After all, that's why teams like the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights win Stanley Cups with these players.
Shea Theodore
This season has been kind to the newly-extended Shea Theodore. The defenseman has 17 assists, with seven coming on the power play. He's been excellent as a merchant on the unit, creating shots for his teammates to pounce on. In turn, it leads to goals from players like Tomas Hertl and the returning Mark Stone.
Theodore will likely be in the second or third pairing, where names like Cale Makar and Devon Toews could join him. Team Canada would have an excellent group of puck-moving defensemen, giving them one of the best offensive groups overall.
Imagine Theodore setting up players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon for power play goals. That would be a Canadian's dream, alongside eating pancakes with maple syrup and seeing one of their teams finally win a Stanley Cup in over three decades. The native of Langley, British Columbia could make that happen in February, delivering juicy goals to the league's best players.