Canadian hockey fans were treated to a pleasant hockey game on Wednesday. They saw superstars like Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand go off during the 4 Nations Face-Off, scoring an array of points. Even Mark Stone represented the Vegas Golden Knights well, scoring a goal! Oh Captain, my Captain!
That's the good news for people living in Las Vegas. The bad news? Shea Theodore suffered an upper-body injury on this hit from Sweden's Adrian Kempe.
Shea Theodore goes to the Canada locker room after a collision with Adrian Kempe pic.twitter.com/nXjUlX8QdM
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 13, 2025
He did not return to the game, leaving residents of Sin City concerned. Of course, the neighbors up north are also worried since players can't be replaced mid-tournament if they miss games unless they're below 18 healthy players. After all, it's their sport (even though the United States has held onto the Stanley Cup every season since 1994). Guess what? He's out for the rest of the event. Yikes.
The defenseman's injury also has people calling for the mid-season tournament to be played during the offseason. If players can be traded during the showcase, it shouldn't be a problem, right? You're not losing key players to bad injuries during your Stanley Cup run and opposing fanbases aren't cooking up conspiracy theories about one team putting players on LTIR. Oh, you gotta love the fans wearing tinfoil hats.
But in all seriousness, Golden Knights fans have a point. There are numerous reasons why the tournament should be moved to the offseason. It's simpler than one would think and would help the NHL grow the game while making things fair for everyone.
Why the NHL should move the 4 Nations Face-Off to the offseason
Moving the 4 Nations Face-Off isn't because of Shea Theodore himself being hurt. There's a greater risk of injury for all teams involved, especially when you're playing multiple games for national pride. Detroit Red Wings star Lucas Raymond also went to the locker room while representing Sweden.
Granted, he was back on the ice after a health scare. However, it doesn't help matters for a team looking to make their first Stanley Cup playoffs since 2016. Red Wing fans have banked on the "Yzerplan" being successful since Steve Yzerman returned home to build a Stanley Cup-winning roster.
Mind you, Raymond has 21 goals and 38 assists. He's evolved into one of the most crucial pieces for Detroit's playoff return. But can you imagine if it was the 22-year-old in Theodore's place? Instead of Vegas Golden Knights fans losing their marbles, there would be a massive outcry coming from the Motor City.
Nobody loves seeing their favorite players out during a prolonged break
Since trades can still happen during the tournament, moving the festivities to the offseason would also make sense. That way, you can have a week of hockey after the Stanley Cup is done to continue your hockey fix. Once it's done, then it's on to free agency. It's simple and would make the game much more meaningful.
Nobody wants to see their favorite players injured during the NHL break. A sudden change of fortune can turn promising Stanley Cup hopes into an absolute nightmare. It doesn't matter if you're in Michigan or Nevada. Sure, the event is absolutely fun as proven by Wednesday's 4-3 overtime win for Canada. But losing players during a Stanley Cup run is never fun.
Therefore, move the tournament to the summer and put the All-Star Game back in place during odd-number years. It's a longshot considering the NHL has ambitious plans for putting the Winter Olympics and its own World Cup during even-numbered years, specifically during February. But the safety of its players matters, especially during another title run.