A week has passed since the 4 Nations Face-Off concluded with Canada coming out on top in a 3-2 overtime win over the United States. Yet, it’s still on the minds of a lot of hockey fans. Why? It was a historic moment for the game. It drew a big audience and not only lived up to the hype, but far exceeded it.
Related: What Should the NHL do About the All-Star Game?
The NHL must take note and learn from the significant tournament. The league has a lot of momentum and can take advantage of it only if they use the 4 Nations Face-Off to improve the NHL and future games between international countries. None more important than the All-Star Break which suddenly has a better alternative.
There’s No Going Back
The All-Star Game was broken and couldn’t be fixed. It was an exhibition and the players treated it that way. It’s not just the NHL, every professional league is coming to grips (or trying to) with a game that doesn’t matter. The NHL tried shuffling the teams. The National Basketball Association (NBA) tinkered with the teams, point systems and everything in between. The National Football League (NFL) plays flag football instead of a regular game. Major League Baseball (MLB) allowed the game to decide which league would have home-field advantage in the World Series for two decades (an idea that remains one of the worst in the game’s history).
The NHL struck gold with the 4 Nations Face-Off. They found a way to make the break in a long season matter to the players and the fans. The All-Star Game is scheduled to return next season with Long Island and UBS Arena hosting the weekend, but it’s hard seeing the league returning after seeing how the past event took off.
It’s not a matter of if the NHL continues international competitions during the All-Star Break. It’s a matter of how. The good news is next season the league takes a break for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will include at least 12 nations. The Olympic Games are every four years and the NHL announced the return of the World Cup, which will also be every four years and two years removed from the Olympics.
The only years left without a big tournament are the odd-numbered years (like this one). While it’s easy to look at the All-Star Game as an option, there’s no way they can go back. Whether it’s a 4 Nations or a similar type of game, they must have something in place, and ideally, it’s one with fewer teams and games to provide a balance for the Olympics and the World Cup.
Branding the Overlooked Stars
Most hockey fans are familiar with Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Hellebuyck, and the other superstars. They were on full display during the games, but the event showcased the overlooked under-the-radar stars, which the league has no shortage of.
The United States was led by their defensive unit, but many fans finally saw and appreciated the elite play of the NHL’s best, notably Jaccob Slavin, Brock Faber, and Zach Werenski. Usually, the defensemen who garner the spotlight are the scorers, after all, they win the Norris Trophy. However, the 4 Nations showed the value of defense, particularly the defensemen who do it at a world-class level.
Hockey experts and analysts know Mikael Granlund and Jake Guentzel are great scorers, but they impressed even those who watch the game every night. The 4 Nations Face-Off proved that the NHL doesn’t just have a handful of stars, it has star players throughout the league.
The league must put these overlooked players into the spotlight and allow fans to watch and appreciate their greatness. The recent event allowed them to do that, but with the NHL returning to regular season action, these stars once again are disappearing from the public eye, and it’s something the league must keep in mind, leading to the next big takeaway.
Broadcasting & Scheduling
The timing couldn’t have been better for the NHL. The first matchup between Canada and the United States was played the same night the NBA had their skills competitions (if you want to call them that). Most sports fans had the choice of watching the effort level of an event where there was none and one where there was a maximum effort (the choice was easy).
It helped that the games were broadcast on ESPN and TNT, with the championship game on ESPN in a prime time slot. The 4 Nations Face-Off drew record-high ratings, in part because the games were intense, but also because they were on ESPN. Sure, the network often ignores hockey, but for the league, it’s all about being on the big stage and putting their product in front of the most sports fans possible.
The timing was great, but it also provided some downsides (you can say it was the best of timings, it was the worst of timings). Sure, the games had an audience with no other major sports in action, but it’s hard to ignore the games resulting in injuries that could derail seasons. Matthew Tkachuk was injured in the Championship game and hasn’t played for the Stanley Cup-contending Florida Panthers since. Charlie McAvoy suffered an injury and a setback when playing and for a bubble team like the Boston Bruins, it could force them to take a different approach at the looming trade deadline and have a chain reaction because of it.
The games in February can’t change. It’s an ideal time for fans to watch hockey, especially once the NFL season concluded and the NBA scrambled to find something to do during their break. The problem is that general managers (GMs) will chain their players to the fence or prevent them from attending if it results in significant injuries. There’s no solution to that problem, but the NHL can, at the very least, delay the resumption of play after the final game. This season, they returned to action fewer than 48 hours after the Championship. That’s a non-starter moving forward.
The Role Fighting Plays in Growing the Game
One underlying issue with the NHL is that it’s not a game made for social media. It’s a game that is most appreciated in the arena, at the rink, and for fans, the full game must be watched to be appreciated. Yes, highlights are posted and taken in, but it’s not how the NHL grows an audience. Fights are made for social media.
There’s no denying that the three fights in nine seconds in the USA-Canada game had casual sports fans dialed in. They were seen by everyone and had people hooked for the rest of the game. It’s a way to draw fans in, and it’s something the league can use to advertise the game.
That said, there’s a side to fighting that the league wants to avoid. The long-term health issues are hard to ignore and while dropping the gloves is entertaining, they also taint the reputation for hockey (as the classic joke goes, “I was in a fight and a hockey game broke out”). The NHL knows it must find a balance and come to grips with the role fighting plays. It’s a way for players to police the game, set the tone, and even take over a game, yet it can’t be overdone. The penalties given to instigators are a sign that the league is looking for common ground and finding that balance.
What Else the NHL Must Take Away From the Games
Location is everything, and the 4 Nations Face-Off was played in Montreal and then Boston. The All-Star Game moves from city to city, and it’s a good thing for the NHL as it puts hockey markets on the map. That said, the Boston and Montreal crowds helped make this even as big as it was. There are some games that feel appropriate when they are played in some cities, especially ones with original NHL franchises.
The World Cup without question should be in one of those cities. Boston, Montreal, New York, and Toronto are built for the moment. Now, this sounds like an East Coast bias and excludes other markets from hosting. So, once again, the league must find a balance. There are some events, like the Olympics, will be in cities around the world, and the World Cup will be assigned to a handful of cities as well. If the league returns to a 4 Nations or a similar format, that’s where they should explore the other markets in the NHL.
Is there something the league must take from the 4 Nations Face-Off? Let us know in the comments section below!
