Olympic Stock Watch: Who's rising, who's falling at Four Nations?
BOSTON, Massachusetts — The NHL's Four Nations Face Off was always designed to be a brief tournament, but the hockey world never stopped a small sample from having an outsized impact on the sport's premier international event.
The Milano-Cortina Olympic Games start on Feb. 6, 2026, meaning players from all hockey countries have less than a year to impress their national federations and make their respective teams.
But these past two weeks at the 4 Nations has offered players the chance to audition on major stage. Especially with the larger rosters allowed in the Olympics, there was always room for players to make themselves indispensable.
Obviously, there is one last game to be played. An impressive performance in tonight's championship match could all but guarantee an invite for top players, and crush the hopes of those who are overwhelmed by the moment.
The question is, which players have already taken a step toward punching their tickets to Italy, and which may have taken a backseat?
CANADA 🇨🇦
Rising
What was asked of Thomas Harley was not simple. Jump into a tournament mid-stream. Against Team USA in arguably the fastest, most physical game of hockey played in the history of the game. The expectations were not high, and nor should they have been. If Harley had struggled, no one would have been too surprised. But, paired with Drew Doughty, he acquitted himself extremely well, with Canada outshooting the Americans 8-3 when he was on the ice, and scoring their only goal.
Whether he makes the Milano Cortina roster is up in the air, but you have to think he'll be much higher on Hockey Canada's depth chart than he was coming into the Four Nations.
There was a lot of talk in the wake of the loss to the US about "identity," and if Canada is looking for "identity," there's no reason Wilson wouldn't be the very first guy they call. You can argue whether "being able to hit people really hard" is something Canada will need to bring in IIHF competition — which has a different ruleset than what was used in the NHL-run Four Nations — but Wilson was a guy who was legitimately considered deep in the selection process for the Four Nations. Expect those calls to be a lot louder if he starts out hot next season.
Falling
Brad Marchand and Drew Doughty
Let's put these two together into the "older guys who probably got their last shot at best-on-best international hockey" bin. They haven't been overmatched, except in a few spots, but there may already be better options out there at this point, and their age might make it a little easier to politely start looking elsewhere early next season.
Marchand especially has bene rendered less effectual up to this point. A player designed to agitate and compete has had difficulties keeping up with the pace and ferocity of skill.
Jordan Binnington, Sam Montembeault, and Adin Hill
Lumping all three Canadian goalies into this category feels a bit cruel. And while Binnington hasn’t been bad, he hasn’t been great; giving up some leaky goals in each of his three starts. Hill and Montembeault didn’t even see action, which actually might tell you something about how the coaches see them. But given that, and all the guys they left at home, you have to believe Canada will do some major reflection on their goaltending situation ahead of the 2026 Olympics.
FINLAND 🇫🇮
Rising
The Finns don't really have enough NHL skaters to get into who should or shouldn't make the Olympic team. If they're healthy enough around this time next year, the odds are that they're going to be in serious conversation for the roster. That said, Lankinen helped the Finns beat Sweden and, yeah, got fed to the wolves against Canada.
Even if we're not convinced Juuse Saros is still The Guy next February, Lankinen is almost certainly a lock for the backup role now. There's no way you would have said that six months ago.
Mantipalo was the last addition to this roster, an injury replacement who came in with only 22 NHL games and zero NHL points to his name. He acquitted himself well throughout in a limited role, and even if some other injury-replacement defenders aren't exactly playing their way into the roster, Mantipalo at least has an argument for more consideration next season. He's certainly not a lock, especially because the Olympic rosters will be opened to Finns playing in other leagues besides the NHL, but he's probably in the conversation now, at least.
Falling
Not that Teravainen is in much danger of dropping off the roster, but his spot at least feels a little more tenuous with his scratch against Canada in a must-win game. He barely played in the first two games (only about 16 minutes of ice time) and only put one shot on goal. If Finland was comfortable going to Joel Armia over him in the Canada game, that may not portend good things.
SWEDEN 🇸🇪
Rising
William Eklund and Leo Carlsson
No, Eklund was not at the 4 Nations Face Off. Should he have been? Well, statistically, yes. He’s the seventh-highest producing Swedish forward in the NHL this year, but failed the sniff test due to his age and inexperience. Carlsson did get the call, and only played one game, but impressed his coaches and teammates. With players like Gustav Nyquist and Viktor Arvidsson struggling both in the NHL this season and this event, it could be time to give the young players a chance in Italy.
Ersson wasn’t supposed to be at the Four Nations Face Off. He’s only here because of a Jacob Markstrom injury. And while the Philadelphia Flyers netminder only played one game, it was the one game Sweden won. It was also the only game where they received above-average stopping. Sure, the pressure was off for both teams, but he was very good, stopping 32 of 33 against the US. The 25-year-old still has a hill to climb in order to make the Swedish Olympic roster, management saw him thrive in a difficult spot and that can never hurt.
Falling
Another guy in the Marchand/Doughty category of "he's probably just getting a little too old to fend off the younger guys who will be vying for spots next year," let alone whichever Swedish forwards might be excelling in European pro leagues. It's not that Nyquist has been bad, necessarily, but he hasn't really played his way into a secure spot, either. And that's even accounting for the goofy goal he scored against the US. Ultimately, there might be a few too many better options to even pencil him in a year from now.
It has not been a good season for Lindholm, and his regular-season struggles have continued into this tournament. Even playing in a mostly defensive role (literally zero offensive zone starts), he had no points, just six shot attempts, and went 15 of 32 at the dot, averaging less than 13 minutes a night. They didn't necessarily put him in a position to succeed, but he felt a little overmatched in a best-on-best.
USA 🇺🇸
Rising
With two goals and three points through three games, Matt Boldy has been one of the most productive players for the United States. He’s a big body, who can impact the game in all three zones and has shown that in this event. His greatest strength in a format like this is an ability to play nearly any role asked of him, and that will come in handy in 2026.
The US will have no shortage of options on the blue line for Milano Cortina, but Sanderson may have made himself impossible to look past. Going into the championship, he has only played one game. But to be a young player who joined the team at the last moment to replace the injured Quinn Hughes, and then jump in for his first game mid-event speaks to his dedication and quality. The fact that he looked good while doing it never hurts. Could this be a guy to push another veteran down the depth chart next year?
Falling
Fox isn’t only on Team USA to produce points. But without Quinn Hughes around, the table was set for the 2021 Norris trophy winner to be a major contributor. Through three games… not so much. No goals. No assists. One shot on goal. All in less than 16:30 per game. There’s a possibility that he’s usurped by a youngster this time next year, if not for a roster spot, than at least for a larger role.
