Latest news with #4Nations
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Why The NHL Shouldn't Make The 4 Nations Face-Off An Annual Event
By Jack Klinck, The Hockey News intern The success of the 4 Nations Face-Off instead of the NHL All-Star Game had some fans asking, "Why not do this every year?" With all-star games and skills competitions becoming less and less popular across all sports, leagues are constantly looking at ways to squeeze excitement out of these low-effort showings. It seems like the NHL is the first league to crack the code. Want to make all-star weekends more exciting? Scrap them all together. Instead of a breakaway challenge, slam dunk competition or dodgeball game, let players put on their country's colors and play for something they actually want to win. With the excitement of the 4 Nations, it's hard to imagine a return to another NHL All-Star Game in the coming years. With NHL players participating in the Olympics in 2026, fans will get another taste of best-on-best, but after that, it's likely back to the NHL's old all-star ways. But maybe that's a good thing. Connor McDavid seems to think so. He said that best-on-best hockey every two years is enough because of the physical toll it takes on the players. As much fun as the 4 Nations Face-Off has been, Connor, we agree. While playing high-intensity playoff-style hockey instead of having a week-long vacation takes a toll on the players, having international best-on-best hockey every year would diminish the meaning of these tournaments and dilute the quality of play. Part of what has made this tournament so exciting was that it was our first taste of men's international best-on-best hockey since the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. It's the rarity that makes it special. For the first time in their careers, the best players in the world could play for their country at the highest level. The NHL caught magic in a bottle with the 4 Nations Face-Off, but it's a magic they can only capture once. Now it's time to tighten the lid and put that bottle back on the shelf. Imagine if every best-on-best tournament ended with a "there's always next year" mentality. Not just that, but a "there's always every year" mentality. The fans would be less interested, and the players would treat it as less of a priority. Take the IIHF's World Championship for example. A tournament of the top hockey countries in the world that sees many NHL players prioritize healing ailments and having a longer off-season over competing for their country. Although the tournament happens in May and usually overlaps with the second round of the NHL playoffs, players such as Connor Bedard, Cale Makar and Cole Caufield were available by that time last season. Not one of them went. The tournament is popular in Europe and has seen countries that likely wouldn't medal in true best-on-best competition like Switzerland, Latvia and Germany leave with some hardware. The worlds also give top prospects a chance to play against high-level professional competition. While the World Championship is great for the game, it should serve as a cautionary tale for the NHL: best-on-best hockey shouldn't be where players go to work on their game or get healthy. It should be the best players in the world playing their best hockey. With NHL Olympic participation in 2026 and the return of the World Cup of Hockey in 2028, we will see international best-on-best hockey at least every two years. And that should be enough. The 4 Nations Face-Off seems like the odd man out. While the NHL seemed to have fixed the All-Star Game this year, it is only a one-time fix. There will still be a February opening in the schedule every second season that the NHL will have to fill. But the league will need to flex its creative muscles as more international hockey is not the way to go. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on Copyright The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Fox News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox News
Stanley Cup champ Alex Pietrangelo steps away from Golden Knights for bilateral femur reconstruction
Stanley Cup champion Alex Pietrangelo is likely to be off of the ice for the foreseeable future as he gets set for bilateral femur reconstruction, the Vegas Golden Knights announced on Monday. The team said there was no guarantee that the reconstruction efforts would be a success. "Alex has our organization's full support in prioritizing his long-term health and quality of life," Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. "Alex is dealing with hips that would require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success. Throughout the season, the steps that Alex needed to take to be able to play and practice began to grow and take a significant toll on his body." McCrimmon said the team had hoped that treatment and rest during the 4 Nations Face-Off break would have been enough to get him back on the ice. "… But instead, what we found were diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward. Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas. "He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism. Today's decision is a difficult one for both Alex and the Golden Knights, but it is being made for the right reasons – so that Alex can be the family man we all know him to be." Pietrangelo signed a seven-year contract with the Golden Knights in October 2020 and helped the team to a Stanley Cup title in 2023 – the second one of his career as he already held the Cup with the St. Louis Blues. However, injuries have taken a toll on his body. "The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am in a difficult position with my overall playing health," he said. "After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it's been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life. "This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family." Pietrangelo, 35, has recorded 637 points in 1,087 games in his 17-year NHL career. He's scored 148 goals and recorded 489 assists. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Global News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Global News
Montreal Canadiens acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from New York Islanders
The Montreal Canadiens have acquired offensive defenceman from the New York Islanders, according to media reports. In return, the Islanders reportedly receive forward Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall picks in Friday night's NHL draft. The Islanders also hold the top pick, with defenceman Matthew Schaefer expected to go first overall. Dobson, a 25-year-old from Summerside, P.E.I., produced 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In 2023-24, the right-shot blueliner posted a career-high 70 points in 79 games, finishing second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among NHL defencemen. Dobson, who was a pending restricted free agent, played all six of his NHL seasons on Long Island after being drafted 12th overall by the franchise in 2018. The six-foot-four, 200-pound Dobson joins a young Canadiens blue line led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. Story continues below advertisement Dobson fills a need for Montreal on the right side. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster after David Savard retired this off-season. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots. The trade signals another step forward in Montreal's transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender. The Canadiens, who held a top-five pick in the last three NHL drafts, exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season thanks to a dramatic 15-5-6 run after February's 4 Nations break.
Edmonton Journal
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Montreal Canadiens acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from New York Islanders
Article content In 2023-24, the right-shot blueliner posted a career-high 70 points in 79 games, finishing second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among NHL defencemen. Dobson, who was a pending restricted free agent, played all six of his NHL seasons on Long Island after being drafted 12th overall by the franchise in 2018. The six-foot-four, 200-pound Dobson joins a young Canadiens blue line led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. Dobson fills a need for Montreal on the right side. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster after David Savard retired this off-season. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots. The trade signals another step forward in Montreal's transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender. The Canadiens, who held a top-five pick in the last three NHL drafts, exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season thanks to a dramatic 15-5-6 run after February's 4 Nations break.
Hamilton Spectator
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Reports: Montreal Canadiens acquire defenceman Noah Dobson from New York Islanders
MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens acquired offensive defenceman Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders, according to media reports. In return, the Islanders reportedly receive forward Emil Heineman and the 16th and 17th overall picks in Friday night's NHL draft. The Islanders also hold the top pick, with defenceman Matthew Schaefer expected to go first overall. Dobson, a 25-year-old from Summerside, P.E.I., produced 10 goals and 29 assists in 71 games last season. In 2023-24, the right-shot blueliner posted a career-high 70 points in 79 games, finishing second in scoring on the Islanders and seventh among NHL defencemen. Dobson, who was a pending restricted free agent, played all six of his NHL seasons on Long Island after being drafted 12th overall by the franchise in 2018. The six-foot-four, 200-pound Dobson joins a young Canadiens blue line led by Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson. Dobson fills a need for Montreal on the right side. Alexandre Carrier was the only remaining right-shot blueliner on the NHL roster after David Savard retired this off-season. Defence prospects David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux are also right shots. The trade signals another step forward in Montreal's transition from rebuilding team to playoff contender. The Canadiens, who held a top-five pick in the last three NHL drafts, exceeded expectations by reaching the playoffs last season thanks to a dramatic 15-5-6 run after February's 4 Nations break. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
