What’s next for NHL after fantastic 4 Nations Face-Off tournament?

• The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, won by Canada in overtime, was a massive success for the NHL. Now, the league has to capitalize on growing interest in the sport.
• The political climate between the U.S. and Canada was a major factor in ramping up the competition’s intensity.
• The next international competition is the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

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The National Hockey League’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament exceeded all expectations—for the league, fans, TV networks, and the sports books. The 10-day event was capped off by an electric championship game Thursday night, Feb. 20, won in overtime by Team Canada. 

Will the NHL capitalize on fan interest?

Now, the NHL needs to capitalize on all the new interest in the game. For the champs, like Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, who scored the game-winning goal, the memories of what took place—and what it meant for the players—will not fade anytime soon. Coach Jon Cooper put it best after the game. 

“I just hope Canada’s proud because every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian. And yeah, did we need a win. Not only like our team, but Canada needed a win, and the players bared that on their shoulders,” Cooper said. “And they took it seriously, and they just –– this one was different. This wasn’t a win for themselves; this was a win for 40 plus million people.”

The current political climate between the U.S. and Canada certainly impacted the tournament’s vibe. Now, the roughly 60 to 70 players and staff from both sides will take a day or two off before joining their respective NHL teams for the season’s stretch run. A full slate of games begins on Saturday, Feb. 22.

What’s up next for the NHL?

A few of the big moments the league hopes will keep fans engaged include the latest NHL Stadium Series game on March 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, the home of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Meanwhile, March 7 is the league’s trade deadline, and some big names are bound to change teams. 

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is also just 16 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record of 894. And the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin Saturday, April 19.

When will Canada and Team USA meet again?

The next international competition that will feature a USA vs. Canada rematch is the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. It will include NHL players, and the opening ceremonies are scheduled for Feb. 6.

And if you thought the 4 Nations tournament was intense, well, the buildup to the Olympic games is already underway, says Red Wings star Dylan Larkin.

“There is something to look forward to with this group, which is great,” Larkin said. “That’s the big one. And I know that it’s a little bit of a different tournament, different rules, but we really feel like we can play any kind of game on any kind of surface and anywhere against anyone.”