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The 4 Nations Face-Off is barely over, and already, we have our sights on the upcoming Olympics and the World Cup in 2028. International hockey has not lost any appeal when it’s a best-on-best tournament.
There were two major takeaways from the 4 Nations worth discussing: the lack of inclusion of players from countries that didn’t participate and that this could be the last time we see some of the older players play for their national teams.
That got me thinking: Which player from each team who did not participate in the 4 Nations would we like to see most in the next international competition?
1. Winnipeg Jets (41-14-3, +70. Previous: 1)
The Danish national team has already qualified for the 2026 Olympics, marking the first time Danish players in the NHL will be allowed to participate. For Nikolaj Ehlers, who has been a staple for their national team and scored four points in three games during qualifying, it’ll be a chance to see if he can be a go-to scorer – a role many analytically inclined observers he has the potential to be – in the toughest international competition in the world.
2. Washington Capitals (38-12-8, +63. Previous: 2)
No question, it’s Alex Ovechkin in what may be his final Olympic appearance. (At his current rate of scoring, he should never retire). Along with Evgeni Malkin, this is the last chance to see Ovechkin’s generation of Russian stars play together before fully turning over the reins to a younger generation that includes Kirill Kaprizov and Kirill Marchenko. The International Olympic Committee has the final say on whether Russia will remain banned or not in the 2026 Olympics, but the IIHF has maintained its ban through May 2026.
3. Dallas Stars (37-19-2, +44. Previous: 5)
Thomas Harley’s impressive performance puts him on Canada’s shortlist, but they’ll also need all-round scorers, such as Wyatt Johnston, to play depth roles. The impressive 21-year-old who plays beyond his years is the type of versatile young player who could be a fixture for many Team Canada’s to come.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (36-20-2, +20. Previous: 6)
Finding a spot for Joseph Woll in Team USA’s net will be difficult, but they should have plenty of use for a power forward with skill, such as Matthew Knies. He can play the type of role Chris Kreider, Ryan Malone and David Backes filled in previous years.
5. Florida Panthers (35-21-3, +29. Previous: 8)
Sergei Bobrovsky will turn 37 years old next September, and this is his last chance to become a member of the Triple Gold club after winning gold at the 2014 World Championship and the Stanley Cup last June. No Russian goalie has ever accomplished this feat, and it will undeniably punch his ticket to the Hall of Fame.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning (33-20-4, +50. Previous: 12)
Neither Andrei Vasilevskiy nor Nikita Kucherov have represented Russia at the Olympics, which is a travesty as they enter their 30’s. With a crowded crease in Russia’s net, the more intriguing player to watch will be Kucherov, who’s arguably the best Russian player in the world right now.
7. Carolina Hurricanes (33-21-4, +23. Previous: 4)
Did you know? Andrei Svechnikov has not represented Russia since the world juniors even though he’s been fantastic for them in international competitions. He’ll be right in his prime, too, turning 25 years old next month.
8. Edmonton Oilers (34-20-4, +20. Previous: 3)
The most obvious answer is Leon Draisaitl, and Germany automatically qualified for the 2026 Olympics based on its top-eight ranking. He’s scored 54 points in 53 games in international competition and will lead arguably the most talented German team ever assembled.
9. Los Angeles Kings (31-17-7, +20. Previous: 16)
I would’ve loved to put Anze Kopitar in here, but Slovenia lost two of its three games in Olympic qualifying and did not make the cut. That leaves Kevin Fiala, whose play has been frustrating in the NHL but has historically been very good for the Swiss national team, winning two silver medals at the Worlds.
10. Vegas Golden Knights (34-18-6, +29. Previous: 9)
Czechia has a lot of intriguing talent. Center has usually been a position of relative weakness for the Czechs, which means Tomas Hertl may play a significant role. He’s the highest-scoring center among active Czech players in the NHL, trailing only David Krejci and Tomas Plekanec on the all-time list.
11. New Jersey Devils (32-21-6, +36. Previous: 10)
Nico Hischier has been a mainstay for the Swiss national team but has never represented them at the Olympics. The Swiss will be a really underrated team with nine other Swiss players currently playing in the NHL.
12. Colorado Avalanche (33-24-2, +9. Previous: 7)
We can hope for Gabriel Landeskog, right? If the prospect of resuming his NHL career wasn’t enough motivation, suiting up for the Olympics certainly adds more fuel. Landeskog is an Olympic gold away from joining the Triple Gold Club, having won two World Championships in 2013 and 2017 and winning silver at the 2014 Olympics.
13. Detroit Red Wings (30-22-6, -10. Previous: 11)
At just 23 years old, Moritz Seider might already be the best German defenseman ever. Christian Ehrhoff had some high peaks, but he can’t change the game or defend the way Seider can. He has the potential to be a true No. 1 and anchor Germany’s defense for at least a decade.
14. Minnesota Wild (34-20-4, +4. Previous: 14)
This one’s easy – Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild have talent but nobody near Kaprizov’s level, and he’ll get a chance to play alongside elite talent on the Russian national team. A line with Kaprizov and Kucherov won’t even need a center.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets (28-22-8, +4. Previous: 15)
It’s a toss-up between Kirill Marchenko for Russia and Adam Fantilli for Canada. Marchenko’s spot is essentially a lock, but it’s harder to say for Fantilli due to Canada’s depth. I do, however, think Fantilli is part of a new wave of Canadian talent, and he’s a big-bodied center who can be a very valuable depth player. He’s stepped in seamlessly as the Jackets’ top center following the injury to Sean Monahan, and his potential is massive.
16. Montreal Canadiens (27-26-5, -24. Previous: 18)
In the previous decade, the NHL was littered with Slovak stars: Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik, Zdeno Chara and the late Pavol Demitra, to name a few. Now, the leading Slovak scorer is Juraj Slafkovsky, who’s barely played two full seasons. Devils defenseman Simon Nemec and Flames prospect Samuel Honzek aren’t far behind, but Slafkovsky’s the face of Slovak hockey going forward.
17. Ottawa Senators (29-24-4, -1. Previous: 13)
There’s a bunch of German players in this column, and that’s a testament to how much talent they have right now. Tim Stutzle is overqualified to be Leon Draisaitl’s No. 2, and yet, here we are. Stutzle has not represented Germany since his breakout 90-point season in 2022-23. The last time was the 2022 World Championship.
18. Boston Bruins (27-24-8, -27. Previous: 17)
The 2026 Olympics might be Brad Marchand’s swan song for Canada, but the spotlight will be on David Pastrnak, who will be tasked with carrying Czechia’s offense. No player is leaned on more both for his NHL club and on his national team than Pastrnak.
19. Calgary Flames (28-21-8, -14. Previous: 20)
USA’s crease is really crowded, but if there’s a young goalie who can force his way onto the roster, it’s Dustin Wolf. He’s been wildly successful everywhere he’s played, but his national team experience consists of just two stints as the backup to Spencer Knight at the world juniors.
20. Vancouver Canucks (26-20-11, -14. Previous: 19)
Latvia went nuts for Arturs Silovs when he backstopped them to the bronze at the 2023 World Championship, the country’s first medal in this competition. Latvia even declared it a national holiday. It’d be fun to see that again – the country might just take the whole year off if the Latvians medal in the Olympics – and Silovs has a year to re-find his game in a tough season with the Canucks and also supplant Elvis Merzlikins in the crease.
21. New York Rangers (29-25-4, -3. Previous: 21)
Add Artemi Panarin to the long list of elite Russian talents who could not participate at 4 Nations. Igor Shesterkin is a world-class goalie, but his impact will be harder to predict in a crowded crease with Vasilevskiy, Bobrovsky and Sorokin.
22. Utah Hockey Club (26-24-9, -12. Previous: 26)
Utah’s flush with talent so take your pick: Logan Cooley or Clayton Keller (snubbed at 4 Nations) for USA, or Dylan Guenther for Canada. Guenther’s a long shot, but don’t be surprised if he’s on the shortlist. He’s come a long way in a very short amount of time. Keller’s one of the best scoring wingers in the NHL and has not represented USA since the 2019 World Championship.
23. Philadelphia Flyers (26-26-7, -22. Previous: 27)
I mentioned Kaprizov and Marchenko, but how about sending Russia’s scoring into overdrive with Matvei Michkov? Considered one of the best prospects ever to come out of Russia, there’s no bigger stage than the Olympics for a flashy scorer who doesn’t seem to fear anything.
24. St. Louis Blues (27-26-6, -11. Previous: 24)
One question that I can already see Russia ask itself while compiling its roster: Can Pavel Buchnevich play center? The Russians are so thin down the middle that they might as well forgo the faceoff, but someone will have to play there.
25. Buffalo Sabres (24-27-5, -7. Previous: 28)
Tage Thompson was a notable omission from the 4 Nations, and I don’t think USA will make that same mistake again. With the rare blend of power and skill with the ability to play center and right wing, his versatility will be invaluable. A special mention goes to Jiri Kulich, who might end up being good enough next season to be a top-six center for Czechia.
26. Anaheim Ducks (25-25-7, -29. Previous: 23)
The Czechs are known for awesome goaltending (see Hasek, Dominik and also Vokoun, Tomas), and the next in line is Lukas Dostal. His brilliant start to the season showed what he was capable of, and if there’s a national team that can steal wins with its goaltending – its defense will be thin – it’s Czechia.
27. New York Islanders (25-25-7, -15. Previous: 22)
Russia hasn’t produced elite defensemen in quite some time, but there’s definitely some promise. Alexander Romanov is currently one of six Russian defensemen averaging more than 20 minutes per game, and he’ll likely be tasked with handling the opposition’s top forwards. That’s a huge responsibility that could also determine Russia’s odds of winning gold.
28. Seattle Kraken (25-31-4, -21. Previous: 25)
Well, it certainly will depend if Joey Daccord wants to suit up for Canada, USA or Switzerland, doesn’t it? Daccord has been so good – Tuesday’s ugly loss to the Blues notwithstanding – his decision could tip the scales.
29. Nashville Predators (20-30-7, -42. Previous: 30)
They have an aging roster and not a lot in the pipeline, but one name to keep an eye on is Joakim Kemell. The 17th-overall pick in 2022, Kemell is a right-shot right winger who can really help balance out Finland’s offense.
30. Pittsburgh Penguins (23-28-9, -49. Previous: 29)
How much does Evgeni Malkin have left in the tank? Malkin is an Olympic gold medal away from joining the Triple Gold Club in a decorated career that’s undoubtedly drawing to a close very soon. It should also assure that he’s never ranked outside the top 100 players in NHL history ever again.
31. San Jose Sharks (15-36-8, -70. Previous: 31)
Easy one: Macklin Celebrini. His spot is not locked in, and Canada places value on experience – remember it elected not to take rookie Sidney Crosby in 2006 – but the Canadians will have to usher in the new wave sooner or later.
32. Chicago Blackhawks (17-34-7, -50. Previous: 32)
Another easy one: Connor Bedard. There was some debate whether or not Bedard would be picked for 4 Nations, and I imagine that discussion will resurface in another year’s time. For pure entertainment purposes and a showcase for offensive creativity and flair, I’d like to see Canada take Bedard and Celebrini.
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