The NHL 4 Nations Face-Off is approaching, and the Los Angeles Kings’ forward Adrian Kempe will represent Team Sweden.
However, will a current teammate join Team Canada after another player withdraws?
Kings’ Kempe Focused on Winning Tournament
The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off is taking place in two locations: the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The teams represented will be the United States, Sweden, Canada, and Finland. The tournament will occur between February 12-20, with each country playing three games that consist of NHL rules in a round-robin style of play. The rosters will feature 13 forwards, seven defensemen, and three goaltenders.
Kempe will represent Team Sweden this season, but this will not be his first time playing in an international tournament. He has participated in this type of play since 2015 and won gold in 2018 in Denmark and bronze in 2024 in Czechia. His international point totals are 21 goals and 35 assists for 56 points in 64 games, along with 56 penalty minutes. This season for Los Angeles, he remains one of the consistent scorers, producing 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points in 47 games.
Aside from Kempe, no other players from Los Angeles are participating.
Could that change?
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo withdrew from the tournament and will focus on the second half of the season, opening a spot on the back end for Team Canada. Could the Kings defenseman Drew Doughty fill that spot? Doughty is returning from surgery to repair a broken ankle suffered in preseason. Although he has yet to play a game this season, he is determined to make the Canadian roster and win. He recently returned to take part in drills without a red non-contact jersey.
Doughty also has international experience representing Team Canada. He won four gold medals (2008 Czech Republic, 2010 Vancouver, 2014 Sochi, and 2016 Toronto). Could this be his spot for the taking, or will the NHL see an opportunity to give that spot to another defenseman worthy of the selection? Doughty does have the experience if Team Canada wants experience and offense.
This could be something to watch as we approach the tournament.
PHOTO: Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images
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