This seems like a rather obvious article given the Vegas Golden Knights have three guys who fit the description. The 4 Nations Face-Off features teams from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. But I bet you notice the absence of two other prominent hockey countries. No, it's not Spain or India.
The Czech Republic and Russia aren't involved in the inaugural competition. It should be obvious why Russia isn't involved, for they've been naughty by IIHF standards. Therefore, they should go to their rooms and think about what they did. But the Czech Republic? They won the last IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship. How can you leave them out of the conversation?
After all, numerous prominent NHL stars hail from the Czech Republic. That includes Tomas Hertl, David Pastrnak, and Martin Necas. They could build a competitive team and take down any of the four nations participating. Imagine how fun that group would be to watch if they could compete. Ditto for Russia if they were on their best behavior and got released from hockey jail by the IIHF.
So let's explore that hypothetical scenario. Let's say the political side of Russia is ironed out and the IIHF does let the nation back in. Let's also assume that the Czech Republic gets its wish from a shooting star and enters the next competition. You know which three players would represent their respective nations here. But let's dive in and see who gets fair representation for the Czech Republic or Russia, shall we?
Tomas Hertl, Czech Republic
Fun must be always, especially in this hypothetical scenario. Vegas Golden Knights fans already know what Tomas Hertl has done for them this season. The center has scored 21 goals and 21 assists this season, with 10 goals and eight assists coming on the power play. But there's more to Hertl's game than simply being a bigger body in front of the net.
He's also won 56.3% of his faceoffs, making him the go-to guy for a team middling in this regard. The Prague native also has a 14.6% shooting percentage and is a threat in high-danger situations. How? His high-danger expected goals in 16.29, which is currently his career-high. Toss in a Corsi of 59% and Fenwick of 62% and Hertl is one of the most productive players on the ice.
There's plenty to like about Hertl being on the Golden Knights. He has an excellent shot selection and can be deployed for redirections and deflections. That's why he would be terrific on a hypothetical Czech Republic team. Already having players like Pastrnak and Necas in your forward group already makes them a threat. Imagine what would happen if opposing goaltenders saw the 6'3" center.