I thought it would be fun, but I didn’t expect this. The teams are playing for keeps and defending hard. It has been physical and feisty, with genuine animosity on display. The big Canada-USA game was a physical, tight-checking, defensive battle.
As the Four Nations break officially winds down for NHL teams and players report back by Tuesday at 2 p.m., our thoughts naturally transitioned back to the Leafs as we weave this tournament into what we’ve seen from the Leafs during the NHL schedule while also looking ahead to the trade deadline.