We’re lower than 4 months away from the NHL getting some long-awaited best-on-best competitors, within the kind of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The event will happen from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal, Quebec and Boston, Massachusetts, in substitute of the annual All-Star festivities. And for a lot of New Jersey Devils gamers, it is going to be a possibility to characterize their nation on an enormous stage.
Luke Hughes informed The Hockey Writers, “You at all times need to be a part of the 4 Nations or the Olympics if you happen to’re fortunate sufficient to be invited.”
Since solely the US, Canada, Finland and Sweden will participate, that excludes a small chunk of Devils. However they nonetheless have 17 rostered gamers who could be eligible to play. Listed here are the doable individuals:
Particular: Jack Hughes (USA)
For Jack Hughes’ requirements, it’s been a sluggish begin to the 2024-25 season. He nonetheless has 12 factors in 15 video games, although, and simply primarily based on expertise alone he’ll make Staff USA. A 3-time All-Star at 23 years of age, he stays one of many elite forwards in your entire NHL.
He’ll get to be teammates along with his brother Quinn, who already has been named to the roster as a part of the “First Six”. Jack has beforehand donned the celebrities and stripes on the World Hockey Championship (U17), World U18s (twice), World Juniors (U20) and the Males’s World Championship. He has a outstanding 54 factors in simply 31 video games between these tournaments.
Particular: Jesper Bratt (Sweden)
Jesper Bratt has been underrated for a really very long time, however not sufficient to maintain him off the Swedish roster, wherein he’ll play a significant position. He’s had three full seasons of being a near-point-per-game participant and continues to be simply 26 years previous.
Bratt has suited up for Sweden on the World Hockey Championship (U17), World U18s and the Males’s World Championship. He’s by no means needed to play as massive of a job as he’ll on the 4 Nations, although. He gained silver on the 2016 U18s, notching 4 factors in seven video games.
Extraordinarily Doubtless: Jacob Markstrom (Sweden)
There’s actually not a lot debating: Jacob Markstrom has been essentially the most profitable amongst all energetic Swedish goalies. The one factor that will preserve him off the group is that if he fully hits a wall and different goaltenders (Samuel Ersson, Anton Forsberg or Jonas Johansson) play considerably higher. It’s already assumed that Linus Ullmark will make the group however Markstrom is a clear-cut second alternative.
Markstrom has suited up for Sweden eight occasions already: World U18s, World Juniors (U20 – twice), the World Cup of Hockey and 4 Males’s World Championships. He’s a mixed 18-10-0 in these contests, and gained a gold medal because the starter on the 2013 Males’s Worlds.
50/50: Erik Haula (Finland)
Whereas the names talked about above ought to have bigger roles, if Erik Haula does make the group, it should nearly actually be for a bottom-six position. With that being stated, he suits the mould of what Finnish administration sometimes seems to be for: nice defensively, kills penalties and has a pleasant scoring contact.
Associated: New Jersey Devils Have 3 Choices to Fill Lazar & Bastian’s Roster Spots
He’s donned the Finnish uniform on six events: the World Hockey Championship (U17), World U18s (twice), World Juniors, Males’s World Championship and the World Cup of Hockey. He informed reporters that he didn’t need to go to the Worlds in Might 2024 as a result of “it wouldn’t be 100% with my coronary heart,” citing some household causes. However since 4 Nations is mid-season, if all the pieces is okay personally, this could be an incredible alternative for him to get again to repping his nation on a giant stage.
50/50: Dougie Hamilton (Canada)
Dougie Hamilton has been on the radar of Staff Canada for some time, as he was a sizzling subject across the 2022 Olympic roster previous to COVID-19. He’s been one of many premier offensive defensemen within the NHL, however there have been murmurs that his shaky defensive play may put him out of favor.
Canada has a stacked blue line headlined by Cale Makar, Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson. However their depth could possibly be higher. Hamilton has suited up for Canada thrice (U17 World Hockey Championship and World Juniors twice)..however not since 2013. On the 2012 World Juniors, he led all defensemen in event factors, successful a bronze medal. He gained’t play a top-four position until there are accidents, however he may probably serve a priceless position as an offensive menace.
In all probability a Longshot: Dawson Mercer (Canada)
Canada is probably going too stacked to contemplate Dawson Mercer, nevertheless it’s price maintaining a tally of. There’s a chance that Canada needs an entire roster with position gamers as a substitute of only a cluster of stars, and in that case, Mercer may play a priceless bottom-six position.
Dawson Mercer with a backhand magnificence.😍 Canada is again within the lead.🇨🇦 #MensWorlds #CANCZE @hockeycanada @NJDevils pic.twitter.com/QVV4jtR8yP
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) Might 21, 2024
It’s additionally been confirmed that participation at Males’s Worlds makes a participant favored by a rustic’s administration group – and the 23-year-old Mercer has already competed there twice, with 9 factors in 19 video games (plus-8). He’s already one of many extra embellished Canadian NHLers, with a World Juniors gold (2020), World Juniors silver (2021) and Males’s Worlds silver (2022).
In all probability a Longshot: Luke Hughes (USA)
The 21-year-old Luke Hughes nonetheless has some rising to do however has a vibrant future forward of him. He made the NHL All-Rookie group final season and was a Calder Trophy finalist. There are loads extra seasoned, well-rounded American defensemen obtainable, but when accidents come calling, there’s an intriguing case for the youngest Hughes.
First, his participation on the Worlds (2022 and 2024) probably has him in good fingers with the American administration group. Then, the promotion worth of a group with all three Hughes brothers may make him price of venture as a seventh defenseman. He’s suited up for the Individuals 5 occasions already, together with the U17 World Hockey Championship and two World Juniors along with the Males’s Worlds.
Everybody Else: Close to Unimaginable
Until a rustic is decimated by accidents, it’s uncertain that another Devils might be given even the slightest consideration. Irrespective of how strong of a contributor one could also be, that is one of the best of one of the best we’re speaking about. It’ll be a complete decade since true best-on-best has occurred with the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Groups are going to be all-in to attempt to win it and gained’t minimize any corners.
