On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal were joined by NHL Insider Frank Seravalli to preview the highly anticipated 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which kicks off tomorrow.
While much of the discussion has focused on Canada and the United States as the tournament favourites, Seravalli believes Sweden could be a sleeper team.
“I haven’t heard enough talk about Sweden. Everyone seems to think it’s a foregone conclusion that Canada and the US are going to be meeting for the championship next Thursday night in Boston, and I’m just not sold that that’s the case,” said Seravalli. “This Swedish defence core is arguably the best in the tournament — you could make a real case for it. I’d still probably lean toward Canada with Cale Makar, but the fact is, it’s in question. Their goaltending should be pretty good, so can their forward group provide the offence necessary to compete with the firepower of the Americans and Canadians?
“Maybe they have a chance to come together and shock everyone, and there’s a fair bit of pressure for Canada on Wednesday night. It’s not about who has the best team; in a four-game tournament — really a three-game round-robin to get to the final — it’s all about who starts the best. Sweden could very well do that to open up this tournament. We’ll see if Canada is alert and ready to go.”
One of the biggest disparities between the teams lies in goaltending, where the United States appears to have a significant edge.
“[Canada] is the clear fourth of four among goalie rankings in the tournament, and I’ll take it a step further: if you were to rank all 12 goalies from 1-12, the advantage the US has over everyone else is pretty stark,” said Seravalli. “You’d go [Connor] Hellebuyck one, [Jake] Oettinger two, and [Jeremy] Swayman maybe four, so they’re that good.”
Despite Canada’s perceived weakness in net, Seravalli doesn’t believe it will significantly hurt them.
“That said, I look at what Canada is likely to get from their goalies, and Jordan Binnington — who was announced as the starter — it’s likely to be average enough that it’s not hugely detrimental to Canada’s chances. A big reason for that is the name of the game over the next 10 days is going to be: can you get the puck away from Team Canada? Can you kill enough plays, make enough stops in the defensive end to give yourself an opportunity? Because this Team Canada should have the puck a ton, which should help the goaltending out as well.”
One of the biggest storylines heading into the tournament is the absence of Quinn Hughes, who chose not to play despite the opportunity to skate alongside his brother, Jack, for Team USA.
“Not really surprised,” said Seravalli. “When you look at his season and the way it’s unfolded, it’s obvious that as well as he’s played and as much separation as he’s created from his next closest teammate, that he hasn’t been right for going back six weeks now.
“I’m sure it was agonizing to pass up an opportunity to play with your brother, but you’re going to get that next year in an opportunity that truly counts in the Olympics. The opportunity for the Canucks team to make the playoffs is going to be decided in relatively short order, and they will have absolutely no chance without Quinn Hughes. He knows and internalizes that, which really has been the push and pull for a lot of players. These guys are being paid millions of dollars by their teams, and it’s a hard balance to strike. But in the end, as loyal as you are to your country, it comes back to the team that’s paying your salary. Quinn Hughes takes that responsibility seriously with the Canucks and wants to be at his best when it matters most.”
Seravalli also touched on the rivalry between Canada and the U.S. and how this tournament presents an opportunity for the Americans to make a statement on the international stage.
“There’s all this talk about the USA having an incredible opportunity to make a statement about the international pecking order: will the U.S. pass Canada? Back-to-back World Junior gold medals, you can throw all that out the window. The key is: winning when it matters most,” he said.
The Americans have an exceptionally talented roster, but their lack of big-stage experience compared to Canada could be a factor.
“That’s why I thought Auston Matthews as the captain for Team USA was an interesting pick because I would’ve gone with a Matthew Tkachuk or someone who’s recently gotten to the summit and knows what it takes. The U.S. doesn’t have many of those players. When you go to the Canadians’ side, it’s serial winners everywhere. You’ve got Stanley Cups littered across that dressing room on top of two guys that are still there from the 2010 Olympics. The U.S. doesn’t have any of that to hang their hat on, so if you’re going to make a statement, you’re going to have to take down the 800-pound gorilla that is Team Canada.”
With the tournament set to kick off, the debate over who has the upper hand will soon be settled on the ice.
You can watch the full segment below:
Daily Faceoff Live is on the road! From February 10th to 20th, we’re bringing you live shows every weekday straight from Four Nations, delivering exclusive coverage, insider analysis, and all the tournament action as it unfolds. Don’t miss a beat—subscribe to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow us on social for the latest updates. It’s international hockey, so expect intensity, excitement, and maybe even a little chaos. Stay locked in and catch us live from Four Nations!
