Oilers well represented at 4 Nations Face-Off despite sluggish start

EDMONTON — Ah, what could have been for the Edmonton Oilers and the 4 Nations Face-Off.

As the Stanley Cup wrapped up last spring, fully four Oilers were being talked about as possible (or probable) additions to Team Canada for the February tournament. But a sluggish start to the season for both team and players cost everybody but Connor McDavid a chance to wear the red and white.

With two Oilers making Team Sweden, Edmonton will be fairly represented in Montreal and Boston, and perhaps this is best for the team’s Stanley Cup intentions in the long run.

But it was a quiet announcement day in Edmonton — or at least less exciting than predicted.

Here’s a look at which Oilers will participate in the 4 Nations, who will not, and why:

Connor McDavid (Team Canada) — The best player currently playing the sport, McDavid was among the first named to the Canadian roster.

It’s never been about whether McDavid would make Team Canada, but rather, if ever a Team Canada would be formed for an international competition during his playing career. Finally, one has been, and McDavid will live out his dream of playing on a national team with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon etc., while wearing the red maple leaf of his home country.

It’s about time, and we fully expect to see peak McDavid come February, the best bringing out the best in the best.

• 4 Nations Face-Off

  With the inaugural edition of the 4 Nations Face-Off fast approaching, be sure to catch up on all the latest news about the highly-anticipated best-on-best event. Puck drops on Feb. 12, 2025, on Sportsnet.

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Zach Hyman – It’s hard to think that Hyman, who has averaged 39 goals per season the past three years on McDavid’s right side, wouldn’t have found a place on this roster had he been healthy and productive through the first quarter of the season.

Alas, he was neither. His analytics show that he had performed similarly to past seasons, but with just three goals in his first 20 games — and now an upper-body injury that has cost him five games — Hyman finds himself on the outside looking in.

That is an excellent compliment to McDavid, if Hyman has a strong second quarter and the right injury pops up, he may yet get the call. But for now, Hyman’s goal is to get his production back up to par for the Oilers and worry about Team Canada later.

Evan Bouchard — This non-selection is less a snub and more a kick in the pants for a 25-year-old stud defenceman who is on pace for a 20-goal, 59-point campaign.

The Bouchard we watched down the stretch and through the playoffs last season was a shoe-in for Team Canada. But the Bouchard we watched for the first 15-18 games of this season played his way off of the roster.

Like the rest of his Oilers teammates, it’s been a slow start for Bouchard, who has an elite shot but has not shown anything near the defensive awareness this season to qualify for a defence corps of this pedigree.

He can and will undoubtedly play at that level — we saw it last spring. But with Cale Makar running the powerplay, Team Canada needs rock solid defenders on every pair. Defensively, Bouchard has not qualified for that assignment through 25 games this season.

Stuart Skinner — Much like Bouchard, Skinner simply did not play well enough during the evaluation window to beat out the three goalies chosen for Team Canada.

It may be a blessing, with his wife due in February and a long playoff run (the Oilers hope) scheduled for the springtime. But if Skinner had played at his current pace — a .917 saves percentage and 2.24 goals against in his last five starts — he’d have very likely made Team Canada.

Mattias Ekholm (Team Sweden) — Ekholm is a national teamer all day long, in any country.

A true Viking at six-foot-five, 225 pounds, he skates very well, plays physically, is an adept handler of the puck, an exceptional passer, and can skate the puck out of trouble. Ekholm is a classic No. 2 — a Swedish Brent Seabrook — with loads of experience (844 games, two Stanley Cup finals) and even more character.

If this guy played for the Maple Leafs they’d build a statue for him. As it stands, he’ll wear the Yellow and Blue of Sweden at 4 Nations, and likely the Olympics next year as well.

Viktor Arvidsson (Team Sweden) — This would be the ultimate reputation appointment, considering Arvidsson has had a disappointing first season with Edmonton, and been injured since Nov. 12. He has two goals and five points in just 16 games this season.

If the current Arvidsson has been underwhelming — and under the weather — the player the Swedes hope they are getting in February would be the one who scores 25 goals per season, kills penalties, digs pucks out of board battles and can play a powerplay (not that this roster will require that from Arvidsson). He’s a dogged checker and highly respected NHL player, but the fact he missed the playoffs in L.A. three springs ago, played only 18 games last season, and is now hurt again…

It’s a sign of respect that the Swedes named him to their roster. Now, let’s see if he plays.