The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off was an overwhelming success. Getting Stanley Cup Final-like ratings, the tournament exposed the sport of hockey to new eyes. Perhaps just as importantly, it gave some of the league’s most underappreciated players a platform to show their worth. From Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the United States, which athletes saw their stock rise the most?
Canada: Thomas Harley
When Canada’s blue line started getting banged up, they invited Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley to fill in. Some only knew him as “Miro Heiskanen’s defensive partner.” Others didn’t know him at all. It was a semi-controversial choice, considering who was theoretically available. Evan Bouchard activates Connor McDavid like no other, and MacKenzie Weegar is one of the better two-way defenders in the NHL. Both watched from home.
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Harley, one of the youngest players in the tournament at 23, embraced his role. In two games, both against the United States, he had a 66.79% expected goal share at 5-on-5—Canada finished with a 51.45% expected goal share in those contests when he was on the bench. He wasn’t a major point-scorer, but he kept games flowing positively in Canada’s direction. That’s all you can ask for.
Harley isn’t a product of Heiskanen, as he moves the puck very well on his own. Maybe this tournament will get him some respect outside of Texas—he’s part of the future up north.
Finland: Aleksander Barkov
As expected, Finland didn’t have a particularly great tournament. They had their moments, but the loss of Heiskanen on the blue line proved to be devastating. Though he is already recognized as one of the best in the business, center Aleksander Barkov showed once again that his excellence is inevitable.
As always, Barkov was relentless off the puck and imposing when he had it. He only had two points, but that doesn’t really tell his story. Despite being assessed the toughest minutes, he was one of two Finns with a plus/minus above zero. When he was on the ice, Finland had a 56.68% expected goal share at 5-on-5 as opposed to a dreadful 37.26% expected goal share when he wasn’t.
This impact was evident with the eye test. Barkov has never met a puck battle he couldn’t win, and he is a world-class playmaker. Though he captained the Florida Panthers to a Stanley Cup last June, he’s not as flashy or productive points-wise as other superstars, so he doesn’t always get his flowers. While this tournament probably didn’t change that a ton, Barkov showed he can succeed anywhere with anyone.
Sweden: Erik Karlsson
If just one of two overtimes went their way, Sweden would’ve moved past the round-robin and squared off against the United States in the championship. The end result was disappointing, but the team battled quite admirably. In particular, Erik Karlsson should be happy with the way he performed.
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On a stacked Sweden defense, Karlsson stood out the most. The 34-year-old was a top-tier contributor to his nation’s scoring, as he was on the ice for 62.50% of its goals. He created chances for his teammates at a high level, displaying the in-zone offense that has allowed him to become a three-time Norris Trophy winner and an effective player to this day.
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Though he is decorated with individual accolades, he doesn’t seem to get enough respect nowadays. Karlsson gets a lot of flack for his defensive woes, but his play-driving offsets that entirely.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in an interesting spot when it comes to Karlsson, as they are on track to miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. His $10 million cap hit for the next three seasons poses a challenge in a potential trade, but a contender could use his services. If they are indeed committed to the future, the asking price for the Swedish blue liner may have just surged.
United States: Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin has always been an elite two-way center—that didn’t change overnight. With a 58.02% expected goal share and a flawless actual goal share at 5-on-5, he was exceptional in his albeit limited minutes. He won over head coach Mike Sullivan in the championship matchup against Canada, as his usage nearly doubled from the start of the tournament (11:14 to 20:21).
While he had a game-winning goal against Canada in the round-robin, Larkin’s two points don’t necessarily jump off the page. But he was still a noticeable player. He generated scoring opportunities and suppressed them the other way.
Though the once-inevitable Detroit Red Wings haven’t made the playoffs since 2015-16, that isn’t Larkin’s fault. He is a true top-line center and has only aided the development of those around him. Lucas Raymond, who has blossomed onto the scene this season, doesn’t do it without Larkin.
A lot of hockey fans don’t get to appreciate all the stars around the NHL due to broadcasting restrictions. Boasting talent across the league, the 4 Nations Face-Off was a breath of fresh air. Harley, Barkov, Karlsson, and Larkin all made their countries proud.
Stats courtesy of MoneyPuck
