SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers are on the verge of celebrating yet another championship, with the potential for multiple players taking home titles this time. As the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Panthers stand out as the only NHL team with players participating on each of the four national rosters in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, which kicks off this week. This guarantees that at least one Panther will be part of the winning team.
Representing Canada, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett will be lacing up their skates, while Gustav Forsling will compete for Sweden. Matthew Tkachuk is set to join Team USA, and four players from the Panthers— including captain Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Eetu Luostarinen, and Niko Mikkola— will don the colors of Finland.
“I’m not rooting for any particular country because it’s a certainty that one of them will come out victorious,” stated Panthers coach Paul Maurice. “There’s a solid group of players expected to return in great spirits.”
Beyond the players on the ice, the Panthers have further representation at the 4 Nations tournament. Tuomo Ruutu, an assistant coach for the Panthers, will take on that same role for Finland. Myles Fee serves as the scouting coach for Sweden, and Patric Hornqvist, the assistant general manager, has a similar position for Team Sweden as well. Equipment manager Teddy Richards will support the U.S. team, while Panthers GM and president of hockey operations Bill Zito is also involved, taking on the role of assistant GM for USA Hockey during this tournament and in preparation for the Olympics next winter.
“This event serves as a bit of a precursor to the Olympics,” Zito explained during a Saturday broadcast with Scripps Sports. “With the 4 Nations—Finland, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S.—we can showcase the top NHL talent competing head to head in a winner-takes-all format. It’s akin to having a playoff series in the midst of the season.”
Each participating team will engage in three games over the course of the tournament, leading to a championship showdown between the top two contenders. Initial matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday in Montreal, after which the tournament will transition to Boston for games on February 17, culminating in the title match on February 19.
“I haven’t had the chance to participate in something like this for nine years,” remarked Tkachuk, who looks forward to playing alongside his brother, Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators, on the U.S. team. “I’ve been eagerly anticipating this moment as my career has progressed, and I’m thrilled to finally have this chance in my ninth season. I believe it will be an impressive showcase of hockey that fans should definitely look forward to.”
Although Maurice does not plan to attend the tournament, he expresses a keen interest in the event. Instead, he intends to stay home and relish in the Panthers’ 12-day break before they resume practice on February 20, with their next game slated for February 22 against Seattle.
“With so many individuals associated with this tournament, I’m genuinely interested,” Maurice commented. “Even if we didn’t have this strong involvement, I believe it’s beneficial for the sport overall. It’s particularly great for fans, as they can support different teams and cheer for their countries during the ongoing season, which is fantastic. The players participating in this event will surely cherish the experience.”
