Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews named captain of Team USA for 4 Nations Face-Off

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Auston Matthews will head the United States’ leadership group at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

USA Hockey announced on Thursday afternoon that the Maple Leafs captain will be its captain for the event in Montreal and Boston, running from Feb. 12-20.

Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers and Charlie McAvoy each will wear an ‘A’ for the United States.

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“We are thrilled to have Auston, Matthew and Charlie leading our team,” USA general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. “They all bring leadership skills in different ways and together represent the drive, desire and passion we need in not only representing our country, but in helping achieve our ultimate goal.”

Matthews’ extensive international experience includes gold medals at two under-18 tournaments and a bronze at the world junior.

It’s quite a development for Matthews, considering the concern around his upper-body injury at various times this season. Since returning to the Leafs lineup on Jan. 4 against Boston, Matthews has been playing his best hockey of 2024-25 and has 15 points (nine goals and six assists) in 12 games.

There had been some discussion, including in this corner, whether Matthews should play in the 4 Nations. His recent play, without any lingering issues pertaining to his injury, has pushed any concerns aside.

A few hours earlier, Sweden announced that Leafs winger William Nylander will be an alternate captain in the tournament.

Nylander has 29 goals, tied for second-most in the National Hockey League (before games on Thursday) behind Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, who has 35.

In 2017, Nylander led Sweden in scoring at the world championship and was named the most valuable player in the tournament. Two years later in 2019, Nylander led the tournament in scoring and was named to the all-star team. He also played for Sweden at the worlds in 2022.

On Wednesday, Nylander said the tournament was picking up interest at home in Sweden.

“A lot of people are excited about it,” Nylander said. “It will be a lot of fun.”

Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning was named captain of Sweden. The other two alternate captains are Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mattias Ekholm of the Edmonton Oilers.

There was no surprise when Canada, the last of the four nations to announce its leadership group, revealed Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby as its captain. No shock with the alternates either, as the Oilers’ Connor McDavid and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche each will wear an A.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to again represent Canada on the international stage and it is an honour to be named captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off on a team with so many great leaders,” Crosby said in a statement. “I look forward to serving as captain alongside Connor and Cale who are amazing leaders in their own right.”

Said Canada coach Jon Cooper: “Sidney, Connor and Cale all possess exceptional leadership qualities, a determination to be the best and a burning desire to win. We are fortunate to have incredible leadership on our team. These players will lead Canada with pride as we set out to accomplish our goal of winning the 4 Nations Face-Off.”

Canada’s first game in the tournament is the opener, on Feb. 12 against Sweden in Montreal, with the U.S. and Finland playing each other the following night, also at the Bell Centre.

Finland was the first team to name its captain and alternates on Thursday.

Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers will wear the C. Alternates are Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen of the Carolina Hurricanes and Mikael Granlund of the San Jose Sharks.