In the middle of February, the hot and star-studded four-nation tournament – a mini-World Championship – will be played with NHL players in North America.
It will be the first time in nine years that a pure national team tournament with NHL players is decided.
The four teams, Sweden, Canada, the USA, and Finland, have already presented six players each. In addition to them, there are several more or less given players in a Swedish squad.
The complete squads will be presented as early as the end of November – just seven weeks into the NHL season, which starts with a doubleheader between Buffalo and New Jersey in Prague.
The rest of the NHL starts in the middle of next week.
A short time for talents
This means that interesting Swedish NHL newcomers like sharpshooter Jonathan Lekkerimäki, goalkeeper Carl Lindbom, and center Noah Östlund will have a tough time competing.
It will be very tight for very many. There are only 20 outfield players (14 places left) and we have very many good hockey players. Everyone has the opportunity, but you have a small advantage if you have performed at the NHL level for several years, says Sam Hallam.
The national team captain sees a large group of players who are current for the 17 remaining places in the squad, which will consist of 20 outfield players and 3 goalkeepers.
We probably need to have 35 names in mind, considering how early we have to name the squad compared to how much hockey is played until the tournament. We have a picture of how we want to build the team, but which names will be on the back, we'll see, he says.
The selection will be made 2.5 months before the tournament starts, due to commercial reasons from the NHL's side.
"Much to play for"
Hallam is in Prague this week for the NHL premiere and will travel to North America in October. At the same time, both Patric Hörnqvist and Josef Boumedienne from the national team management are on site in North America.
With a home World Championship in May next year and the Olympic Games in Milan in February 2026 – when NHL players will make their Olympic comeback – the major tournaments are coming thick and fast.
So Sam Hallam has high expectations for the NHL season for the Swedish part:
You want to see some take a little step. We have a bunch of players who are on the verge of reaching the William Nylander level. I hope the players see it as an opportunity. Then comes a home World Championship and an Olympic Games, so there's much to play for.
Göran Sundberg/TT
Facts: NHL's four-nation tournament
TT
The four-nation tournament (official name is NHL 4 Nations Face-off) will be played in Montreal and Boston from February 12-20, 2025.
Already selected Swedish players, defenders: Gustav Forsling, Florida, Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay, Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh, forwards: Filip Forsberg, Nashville, William Nylander, Toronto, Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers.
The rest of the squad will be presented at the end of November. The final squad will consist of 3 goalkeepers and 20 outfield players (Hallam is thinking of 7 defenders + 13 forwards).
The game schedule:
February 13 (02.00 Swedish time, Montreal): Canada–Sweden.
February 14 (02.00, Montreal): USA–Finland.
February 15 (19.00, Montreal): Finland–Sweden.
February 16 (02.00, Montreal): USA–Canada.
February 17 (19.00, Boston): Canada–Finland.
February 18 (02.00, Boston): Sweden–USA.
February 21 (02.00, Boston): Final
