Panthers Dominance: Eight Players Headed to 2025 4 Nations Face-Off

MONTREAL, CA — The Florida Panthers are set to showcase their star power with a league-leading eight players participating in the highly anticipated 2025 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, starting on February 12 and culminating in a championship game on February 20.

This event marks the NHL‘s first best-on-best international competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Featuring national teams from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden, the games will commence in Montreal before moving to Boston for the final rounds.

Each of the NHL teams involved will have a representative from the Panthers, ensuring that at least one Panther will return with a championship title, given their distribution among the four competing squads. Key players include Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola for Finland; Sam Bennett and Sam Reinhart for Canada; Matthew Tkachuk for the United States; and Gustav Forsling for Sweden.

“We’ve got so many people involved with it,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “Personally, I’m very interested. If we didn’t have as many people, I still think it’s really good for the game. It’s actually best possibly for the fans because they can cheer for a different team and they get to cheer for their country in-season, which I think is great. The guys that get to go to this tournament, they won’t forget it.”

As excitement builds for the tournament, each participating nation brings a range of experience, past performances, and star players that fans can rally behind.

For Finland, the team includes notable stats from the current NHL season, with Barkov leading with 52 points (14 goals, 38 assists) in 47 games, while Lundell and Luostarinen also contribute significantly. Underlining the pride of representing his country, Barkov stated, “It’s a huge honor [to captain Team Finland]. I never really dreamed about that, but it’s a huge honor. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be the captain of the national team. I can’t wait to get going in the tournament.”

Team USA features standout player Auston Matthews, who currently holds 57 points (22 goals, 35 assists) in 52 games. “It’s such an honor being able to be on a team that says the United States of America. It’s such an honor. I haven’t had the opportunity in nine years to do this. I’ve been really looking forward to this as my career has gone on,” Matthews expressed.

Canada’s lineup boasts Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, both of whom are equipped to lead their squad as they chase a title. Canada holds an impressive record in previous international competitions, and current stats show the team’s determination to reclaim its dominance.

“It’s always an honor. It’s been a while, so it’s an honor to be a part of one. … Guys are excited about it. It’s been a long time coming,” stated Bennett, reflecting on the opportunity to represent his nation.

Sweden looks to continue its legacy with a strong team featuring skillful players such as Elias Pettersson and Victor Hedman, highlighting the importance of experience on the ice as they prepare for what promises to be a fierce competition.

The tournament setup consists of three Round Robin games for each team, with points awarded based on performance; 3 points for a win in regulation, 2 for a win in overtime, 1 for a loss in overtime, and 0 for a loss in regulation. The two teams with the highest points will advance to the championship game.

Key matchups will unfold starting with Canada against Sweden on February 12, followed by the USA facing Finland on February 13, culminating in the championship game, which promises to deliver high-stakes action.

With a rich history of international competition, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off offers a renewed stage for NHL players to represent their countries and assert their prowess on the ice, engaging fans and building anticipation for future tournaments.