Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
Heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, many expected that the United States and Canada would be the teams to beat and meet in the championship game.
Here are grades for the United States and Canada, including the biggest takeaways, the key player to watch for the 2026 Olympics, and lingering questions for each nation in the buildup to the Winter Games.
Grading the teams
Canada: A
Canada had star power to spare in its lineup, but there was no way relying on just the top lines to contribute was going to get them past an equally stacked American team. Kudos to head coach Jon Cooper for recognizing that and tapping into all Canada had to offer.
The addition of Cale Makar on the blue line — after he missed the round-robin matchup between these teams with an illness — was a significant improvement for Canada, but their other elite skaters were still stymied. By midway through the third period, there were no shots on goal from players like Mitch Marner and Sidney Crosby; beating an all-world goalie like Connor Hellebuyck isn’t easy at the best of times, and Canada could have made him more uncomfortable.
In such an evenly matched game, open ice was hard to find. Canada cracked the Vezina Trophy favorite with savvy play that other countries in the event couldn’t manage. That was a win in itself. McDavid producing the overtime game-winner was simply poetic.
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Connor McDavid on Canada’s win: ‘It means the world to our group’
Connor McDavid reacts to Canada’s OT win over USA in 4 Nations championship game.
United States: A-
The USA didn’t need a group chat to outline their strategy in this one. The final was no time for fisticuffs; it was more about finesse.
Fortunately, the Americans had that on display, too. Jake Guentzel might have been the most effective forward on both sides of this game, frustrating the Canadian defense with some flashy moves. And anyone who didn’t recognize how good Jaccob Slavin can be got a masterclass in the way he dominated from the back end, with Ray Ferraro referring to him as an “eraser” in the defensive zone.
While both players deserve praise, it was maybe leaning too much on individuals that kept the U.S. from taking over earlier in the game. The team let Canada bring the action to them for the first two periods before turning up the heat in those final 20 minutes. Would the U.S. have run away with a victory had it pressed earlier?
What we learned
Depth makes a difference
The stars showed up on both sides of the final, but depth skaters made their presence felt, too. Jake Sanderson and Sam Bennett pocketed second period goals, showing why certain skaters were targeted by their countries for this short-term opportunity — it’s because they can make an impact.
Bennett was the one who drew Canada’s second period penalty and while his countrymen didn’t capitalize, he gave them a chance. And Sanderson wouldn’t have been in the lineup if it weren’t for an injury to Charlie McAvoy, which just shows why roster construction is such a delicate task in these tournaments.
Given how quickly injuries can happen, teams have to trust whatever skaters are waiting in the wings — same with Thomas Harley stepping in for Josh Morrissey — and in an evenly fought matchup like this one, depth can move the needle.
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Sam Bennett’s wrister ties the score for Canada
Sam Bennett speeds to the net and scores on a wrister to bring Canada even with USA at 2-2.
Goaltending hardly a great divide
There were long discussions around how Jordan Binnington would stack up against Hellebuyck in a final game. And it turns out both netminders were excellent.
Most of the game was evenly played in shots on goal, and Binnington came through with just as many clutch stops as Hellebuyck to give his team a chance to win. Earlier concerns about Binnington’s ability to match Hellebuyck now seem silly, particularly as star players at both ends — Auston Matthews and McDavid — couldn’t find twine early on.
The key for Binnington especially was to make the stop that counted, like when he stoned Matthews and Brady Tkachuk in overtime. He was Canada’s OT MVP.
Hellebuyck exceptional too; one of the goalies had to give up a winner, and in the end it wasn’t a knock on either to see that puck cross the line.
Player to watch in the build to the Olympics
Crosby is, by all accounts, the heartbeat of every team he plays for — whether it’s the Pittsburgh Penguins or on the intentional front. Crosby will be 38 when the 2026 Olympic Games roll around. What can Canada reasonably expect from him in that tournament?
Crosby was Canada’s points leader at 4 Nations going into the final, with one goal and four assists, proving that he’s still incredibly effective even when he’s battling an injury (there’s a reason he kept that left hand in a hoodie during every media availability during the 4 Nations event). But will another year of NHL wear and tear allow Crosby to take on key responsibilities again in Italy?
There are a number of up-and-coming forwards in Canada’s system and while Crosby is guaranteed a spot on his country’s Olympic roster, where he slots in will be fascinating.
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Crosby after victory: ‘You saw the hockey that was on display’
Sidney Crosby reflects on playing for Canada and winning the 4 Nations Face-Off Championship.
We did not see the best of Matthews in this 4 Nations tournament. He’s battled injuries throughout the NHL season and didn’t register his first shot on goal in the event until the championship.
And yet, Matthews is a generational scoring talent who can be a wicked game-breaker unlike anyone in the USA program. He was named 4 Nations captain for a reason, and if that opportunity didn’t showcase all Matthews has to offer, then a healthy version at the Olympics could tell an entirely different story.
And if it does, what difference does that make for the USA in those Games? Matthews has excelled at every level and whatever he does in the offseason to guard against injury in the coming year will play into how performs in Italy. There’s no doubt what he’s capable of. It’s all about health and ensuring he’s primed to be at his best come next year.
Lingering questions for the Olympics
How will Canada approach it’s goaltending?
Canada came under heavy scrutiny for their goalie choices in this tournament. Logan Thompson wasn’t included among Canada’s trio, and frankly deserved to be. Will he emerge as a starter for Canada when it comes to the Games? Or is what Binnington provided as the only Canadian goalie used at 4 Nations enough to give him the inside track to be Canada’s No.1?
Or does another candidate emerge? Will Stuart Skinner Or Darcy Kuemper push their way into the conversation?
Canada’s top forwards and defensemen haven’t been in question. It comes down to who they think will give them the best chance in net, given that Jon Cooper didn’t give either Adin Hill or Sam Montembeault a sniff at 4 Nations.
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Jordan Binnington makes a sprawling save on Brady Tkachuk in OT
Jordan Binnington stands on his head in overtime with a sprawling save for Canada to keep the score tied.
What will a healthy USA blue line look like?
It looked for a moment like the USA might get Quinn Hughes in for the final, after he was originally sidelined by injury for the tournament. That roster addition didn’t come to fruition, but what difference might Hughes have made? Especially if he was on a back end that included a healthy McAvoy, forced out of the tournament by an upper-body ailment?
The U.S. showed time and again it can generate offense, and their goaltending group was arguably the event’s best. It’s not that they lacked defensive prowess without Hughes and McAvoy in the mix, but it’s hard not to wonder how much more dominant this team could be in Italy with all they top skaters available.
Because when they orchestrate a tight, shut-down game they can be as good or better than any opponent.
Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.
“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”
Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.
The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.
Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.
“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.
McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.
“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”
McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.
“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.
McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.
Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.
York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.
“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”
The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.
York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.
“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”