If you’re a hockey fan in Canada, you basically spent the last year screaming at your TV or arguing in group chats about who should’ve been on the Canada roster 4 nations Face-Off squad. It was the "pre-Olympic" appetizer we all needed. Honestly, it was a mess of high expectations and even higher stress. Now that the dust has settled and the tournament is in the history books, we can actually look back at the 2025 roster with some clarity.
Canada won. That's the headline. But how they got there with this specific group of 23 guys is a wilder story than just "McDavid being McDavid."
The Core That Everyone Saw Coming
The "First Six" were announced ages ago, and nobody was surprised. You don’t leave Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, or Nathan MacKinnon off a team unless they’re literally missing a limb. They are the bedrock. But let’s be real—the drama wasn't at the top. It was at the bottom. It was about who would actually play the "grind" minutes.
When the full list finally dropped, it was a mix of pure offensive wizardry and some serious "identity" picks. Here is who actually suited up for that February run:
Forwards:
- Sidney Crosby (Captain)
- Connor McDavid (Alternate)
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Brad Marchand (Alternate)
- Mitch Marner
- Brayden Point
- Sam Reinhart
- Mark Stone
- Sam Bennett
- Anthony Cirelli
- Brandon Hagel
- Seth Jarvis
- Travis Konecny
Defensemen:
- Cale Makar (Alternate)
- Josh Morrissey
- Colton Parayko
- Drew Doughty (Injury replacement for Alex Pietrangelo)
- Travis Sanheim
- Shea Theodore
- Devon Toews
- Thomas Harley (Late addition)
Goalies:
- Jordan Binnington
- Adin Hill
- Sam Montembeault
The biggest shocker for most people? Sam Bennett. He’s a guy who plays like he’s trying to start a fight in a library. A lot of folks thought he was too "unrefined" for a high-skill tournament like the 4 Nations Face-Off. Turns out, his grit was exactly what Canada needed when things got heavy against the Americans.
The Blue Line Drama and the Doughty Factor
Let’s talk about the defense. The Canada roster 4 nations selection for the back end was a headache for GM Don Sweeney. Originally, Alex Pietrangelo was supposed to be a cornerstone. When he had to withdraw in late January to tend to an ailment and prep for the NHL season, the collective groan from Halifax to Vancouver was audible.
Enter Drew Doughty.
A lot of people said he was too old. They said his best days were in 2014. But Jon Cooper and the management group (which included Kyle Dubas and Jim Nill) knew better. They needed that veteran snarl. Doughty didn't just fill a spot; he ate massive minutes.
Then you had the Cale Makar scare. During the tournament, Makar deal with a brief illness that kept him out of the second game against the USA. Seeing the best defenseman in the world sitting in the press box was terrifying for Canadian fans. Thomas Harley got the call to step up, and he didn't look out of place for a second. It shows you just how deep the Canadian pipeline actually is. Even the "backups" are top-pair guys on most NHL teams.
Why the Goalies Made Everyone Nervous
If there was one weak spot on the Canada roster 4 nations list, it was the crease. It’s the one area where Canada doesn't have a clear, undisputed "God" like the US has with Connor Hellebuyck.
Jordan Binnington took the lead, but the debate between Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault was fierce. Montembeault was the "sentimental" pick for the Montreal games at the Bell Centre, but Binnington’s big-game pedigree eventually won out. It wasn't always pretty. Canada didn't win because of a .950 save percentage; they won because the defense kept the high-danger chances to a minimum.
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The "Snubs" That Still Haunt the Selection Committee
You can't talk about this roster without mentioning who wasn't there.
Connor Bedard.
Yeah, the kid. He was the biggest omission. General Manager Doug Armstrong eventually had to explain that while Bedard is a generational talent, they wanted "winners" and "proven veterans" for this short, high-intensity sprint. Bedard was scoring at a crazy clip for Chicago before an injury in late 2024, but the staff stuck to their guns.
Then there was Mark Scheifele. The guy has more points over the last few seasons than almost anyone, yet he couldn't crack the top nine. Canada opted for the "Tampa Bay Connection" instead—taking Cirelli and Hagel because of their familiarity with Jon Cooper’s system. It’s a classic Hockey Canada move: picking "roles" over "stats."
How the Roster Actually Performed
The tournament kicked off on February 12, 2025, at the Bell Centre in Montreal. Canada started shaky, needing overtime to beat Sweden 4-3. Mitch Marner got the winner, which probably felt like a huge weight off his shoulders given the constant pressure he faces in Toronto.
But the real test was the February 15th game against the USA. Canada lost 3-1.
That loss sent the country into a tailspin. Suddenly, the Canada roster 4 nations choices were being shredded on sports radio. "Too slow!" "Not enough scoring!" "Where is Bedard?"
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The team responded by beating Finland 5-3 in Boston, with MacKinnon looking like he was shot out of a cannon. It set up a rematch with the US in the Championship Game on February 20th at TD Garden.
In that final, it was the "stars" who delivered. Connor McDavid scored the overtime winner to seal a 3-2 victory. It was the kind of goal that makes you realize why the management group ignored the noise and stuck with their veterans.
Actionable Insights for the Future
Looking ahead to the 2026 Olympics, the 4 Nations Face-Off gave us a clear blueprint of what works and what doesn't.
- The System Matters More Than Stars: Jon Cooper’s ability to integrate the Tampa Bay "identity" players (Point, Cirelli, Hagel) allowed the superstars like McDavid to play freely. Expect more of this "blended" roster construction.
- The Defense is Set: Don't expect many changes to the blueline. The core of Makar, Morrissey, and Toews is arguably the best in international history.
- The Goalie Battle is Wide Open: While Binnington won the tournament, the door isn't closed. Names like Mackenzie Blackwood or Logan Thompson are still very much in the mix if they have a hot start to the next season.
- The Youth Movement is Coming: Bedard and Celebrini might have missed the 4 Nations, but their performance in the NHL since then makes them almost impossible to ignore for the next major international window.
If you want to keep up with the next set of roster leaks, start watching the chemistry between players on their club teams now. That’s usually the biggest hint Hockey Canada gives us.