Over All-Star weekend, the National Hockey League announced its return to international competition, beginning in 2025.
The announcement of the “4 Nations Face-Off” provided plenty of buzz throughout Toronto. For an eight-day period, the league’s top stars from the United States, Canada, Finland, and Sweden will represent their countries in a round-robin format. Two North American cities will split hosting when the four countries commence for this first-ever event.
Given the staleness of the annual All-Star festivities, the international tournament provides a welcome development. Yet, a few notable names will miss out on this unique tournament, including the dynamic David Pastrnak.