Canada Still Favoured for Four Nations but Smart Money Might Be on the States

[Larry Fisher]

From juniors to the pros, let's take a closer look at how Canada stacks up against the competition — and specifically the rival Americans — for the Four Nations Face-Off in February: Canada Still Favoured for Four Nations but Smart Money Might Be on the States

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[Rabid Ranger]

It's very close. As close as these two countries have been in a best on best tournament.

 

[Czechboy]

From juniors to the pros, let's take a closer look at how Canada stacks up against the competition — and specifically the rival Americans — for the Four Nations Face-Off in February: Canada Still Favoured for Four Nations but Smart Money Might Be on the States

This will come down to a bad call, post or a TSN camera getting in the way.lol

 

[Larry Fisher]

It's very close. As close as these two countries have been in a best on best tournament.

Totally, it's got the makings of a great rivalry going forward into the next two Olympics and beyond!

 

[Statsy]

This will come down to a bad call, post or a TSN camera getting in the way.lol

People accuse us of having dumb luck, but as a Canadian, we have to KNOW where to position our cameras so they are able to make the key plays during meaningful games.

 

[Czechboy]

People accuse us of having dumb luck, but as a Canadian, we have to KNOW where to position our cameras so they are able to make the key plays during meaningful games.

Put that camera in the Canadian hockey Hall of Fame.lol

 

[Crosby2010]

It has shades of 1996, that type of rivalry. There is a lot to like about the Americans. At the end of the day our top end guys are better than their top end guys. But can the Americans win this thing? Yes, very much so. In 1996 we had 63% of the NHL. Today we have 45% of the league. And the Americans have gone the opposite. 16% of the NHL then, maybe 27-28% now. When you take the top 23 guys from each group it means there is a lot of talent on each side. You just need one team. The Americans certainly built their team to beat Canada, same with us. It should be a beauty.

 

[ORRFForever]

It has shades of 1996, that type of rivalry. There is a lot to like about the Americans. At the end of the day our top end guys are better than their top end guys. But can the Americans win this thing? Yes, very much so. In 1996 we had 63% of the NHL. Today we have 45% of the league. And the Americans have gone the opposite. 16% of the NHL then, maybe 27-28% now. When you take the top 23 guys from each group it means there is a lot of talent on each side. You just need one team. The Americans certainly built their team to beat Canada, same with us. It should be a beauty.

It could have been FAR worse...

First, we are turning the page on our Golden Generation - that was always going to be a let down.

Second, we had 4 garbage drafts. The 2016 - 2019 Drafts should be feeding Team Canada in Feb 2025, like they are feeding Team U.S.A.. Unfortunately, for Canada, ONLY Makar and Hagel come from those years.

Now look at the Americans from those drafts...

Jeremy Swayman
Jake Oettinger
Charlie McAvoy
Quinn Hughes
Adam Fox
Matthew Tkachuk
Brady Tkachuk
Auston Matthews
Jack Hughes
Matt Boldy

Tage Thompson
Cole Caufield
Clayton Keller

And, if a bunch of our players hadn't started producing:

* Remember when Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett were BUSTS?
* Anthony Cerelli, Brandon Hagel, Travis Sanheim are peaking.
* Seth Jarvis is a 22 year old 200 foot blessing.

...it could have been FAR worse!

But, as I have said MANY times, the calvary is coming. What Canada has produced from 2020 on is beyond what I could have hoped just 5 years ago. Now, if we can just win in 2026 (and 2028; I don't care about the silliness in Feb 2025), we will have gotten past an American minefield.

 

[Crosby2010]

It could have been FAR worse...

First, we are turning the page on our Golden Generation - that was always going to be a let down.

Second, we had 4 garbage drafts. The 2016 - 2019 Drafts should be feeding Team Canada like they are feeding Team U.S.A..

For Canada, ONLY Makar and Hagel come from those years.
Now look at the Americans from those drafts...

Jeremy Swayman
Jake Oettinger
Charlie McAvoy
Quinn Hughes
Adam Fox
Matthew Tkachuk
Brady Tkachuk
Auston Matthews
Jack Hughes
Matt Boldy

Tage Thompson
Cole Caufield
Clayton Keller

And, if a bunch of our players hadn't started producing:

* Remember when Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett were BUSTS?
* Anthony Cerelli, Brandon Hagel, Travis Sanheim are peaking.
* Seth Jarvis is a 22 year old 200 foot blessing.

...it could have been FAR worse!

But, as I have said MANY times, the calvary is coming. What Canada has produced from 2020 on is beyond what I could have hoped just 5 years ago. Now, if we can just win in 2026 (and 2028; I don't care about the silliness in Feb 2025), we will have gotten past an American minefield.

Definitely a lot in the pipe. And not just quality but quantity. 19 players from Canada picked in the 1st round of the 2024 draft. That's 59%. At least half if not more of projected 1st rounders in 2025 are Canadian. 2020 and 2021 both were heavy in Canadians in the early round. 2022 not so much. 2023 was pretty good. We'll see how it all shakes down, but yes you are right there is a wealth of talent not just here but waiting in the wings as well.

 

[Czechboy]

Canada's x factor is intangibles. As Ric flair would say.. to be the man, you gotta beat the man.

I still say Finland wins it.

 

[ORRFForever]

Definitely a lot in the pipe. And not just quality but quantity. 19 players from Canada picked in the 1st round of the 2024 draft. That's 59%. At least half if not more of projected 1st rounders in 2025 are Canadian. 2020 and 2021 both were heavy in Canadians in the early round. 2022 not so much. 2023 was pretty good. We'll see how it all shakes down, but yes you are right there is a wealth of talent not just here but waiting in the wings as well.

^^ This.^^

The Over/Under for Canadian players in this year's draft is 20. Then there is the quality - a very BIG strong group of players. 2025 could go down as the best Canadian draft in 20 years.

As for players in the NHL : Lots of young Canadian kids are lighting the lamp. Even Shane Wright is on fire. Now if we can just get Quinton Byfield to live up to his potential.

In 2030, I have NO idea how we will pick 13 forwards. It will be insane.