4 Nations Face-Off: Best Bets, Picks, Predictions

For the first time in more than eight years, some of the NHL's best players will pull on their national jerseys for a best-on-best tournament, the 4 Nations Face-Off, which starts on Wednesday.

The tournament replaces the All-Star Weekend, but while that event is primarily about fun, expect the teams representing Canada, United States, Sweden and Finland to take things a bit more seriously with national pride on the line.

With NHL players returning to the Olympics this time next year in Milan, plenty of participants will see this as a chance to advertise their claims for selection.

The first four games take place at Montreal's Bell Center before the action heads to TD Garden in Boston for the remaining two round-robin games and the final on February 20.

Sidney Crosby already has a healthy collection of gold medals from representing Canada, including Olympic golds in 2010 and 2014 as well as the 2016 World Cup.

Sid the Kid is now Sid the veteran, but he is still a force on the ice, and captains a typically formidable Canadian team.

They could be challenged by a superb all-round United States outfit, however, while Sweden and Finland's representatives will be keen to impress too. 

4 Nations Face-Off betting picks and predictions

USA to win outright (+160)

With all due respect to the Nordic participants this tournament looks to be a straight fight between Canada and the USA.

With a projected top line of Crosby, reigning Hart Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon and the acknowledged greatest active player Connor McDavid it's clear Canada are going to be a mighty offensive force.

Even more so when you factor in a top defensive pair of Cale Makar and Devon Toews of the Colorado Avalanche.

However, unusually for a Canadian team, there is not a great amount of depth beyond the big stars, particularly in their own zone.

Goaltending looks a particular area of concern. Sure, Vegas' Adin Hill and Jordan Binnington of the Blues have both won the Stanley Cup within the last five years, but neither is particularly considered a star name.

Their credentials are likely to be severely tested by some fearsome forward groups in opposition, and even Canada's own all-star attacking line-up may not be able to score its way out of trouble every time.

The US certainly do have a star man between the pipes in the form of Connor Hellebuyck. The 2020 and 2024 Vezina Trophy winner is having another stellar season with Winnipeg, looking virtually unbeatable at times, and he is the man you want in the net facing the very best in offensive opposition.

Jake Oettinger is a more than able deputy if required, and even Jeremy Swayman could recapture his sparkle with a better defense in front of him than he has been used to from the Boston Bruins this season.

The US roster is stacked with quality - and variety - at all positions.

Ahead of Hellebuyck will be an elite defensive unit comprising two of the NHL's three most productive defensemen in Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes, while Charlie McAvoy knows how to quarterback a power play.

They have got shutdown quality as well, with Jaccob Slavin among the league's top five in takeaways.

The forward group is a perfect mix of speed, playmaking and scoring touch, and what the likes of Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews may lack in outright star quality compared to Canada, they could more than make up for in dynamic team play.

If the US can quickly build chemistry, they could prove to be an unstoppable force. 

Finland Under 3.5 round robin points (-190)

Finland have a history of overperforming in international competitions, but they look completely out of their depth in this company.

Their defense was lacking any depth even before Miro Heiskanen went down with a knee injury and the Dallas ace's absence leaves a huge hole.

Finnish goalies were the envy of the world not so long ago, but that is no longer the case, and the Finns could be on the wrong end of some lopsided scorelines in this tournament.

Their best chance looks to be against rivals Sweden, but on paper Tre Kronor are a stronger outfit and Finland should be backed to collect no more than three points in the tournament, despite cramped odds.

Jack Eichel top pointscorer (+2200)

With so much class on show it's little wonder the market for top pointscorer is wide open, and one who is right in the mix at very rewarding odds is US centerman Eichel.

The Massachusetts native has spent much of his career in McDavid's shadow, drafted second to the Canadian in 2015 by Buffalo and since traded to Vegas.

However, Eichel got one over McDavid two years ago by being the first of the pair to lift the Stanley Cup, and he is having a career year with the Golden Knights.

Recent seasons have been interrupted by injuries, but he is flying now, sitting tied seventh in the league with 67 points and on course to smash his previous best of 82 scoring contributions, achieved in 2018/19.

Eichel had scored eight goals in his last nine games going into the weekend and is projected to play on the top line for the US.

He should get plenty of chances to either score or assist given the caliber of players he will be with, and with the final taking place so close to home, we could see something special from the 28-year-old. 

Read more about the 2025 Team USA Nations Face-Off roster and coaches.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.