In February, the NHL is hosting a special event. No, it’s not the All-Star game, it’s the Four Nations Face-Off. The week-long event is meant to be a precursor to the NHL’s participation in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympic Games. However, the major difference between the two events is, as the name implies, that this round-robin tournament will only feature four teams.
The four nations going head-to-head are Finland, Sweden, Canada, and the United States. Back in February, we took a look at which Devils could be in consideration to represent their respective countries. Now that we know the rosters, let’s break down which Devils made it and who got snubbed.
The Players In
Erik Haula – Finland
While Haula most likely won’t play a large role for team Finland, he will certainly play an important one. Haula is one of the older players on the team and a really solid defensive forward. He should slot in nicely as a bottom-six center to back-up a high powered top end of Finland’s lineup.
According to JFresh Hockey, Haula is in the 87th percentile in even-strength defensive wins above replacement (WAR) and 69th percentile in penalty kill WAR among all forwards over the last three-and-a-half seasons. Two marks that show in his on-ice play and are surely a large reason as to why Haula was selected to team Finland.
Jesper Bratt – Sweden
In our article from last February Jesper Bratt was listed as a “lock” for team Sweden. While he was not listed in the nation’s initial six selections, Bratt was never not going to be on the roster.
Bratt currently leads all Swedish players in points this season and since the 2021-22 season is third in points among Swedish players with 264. That mark is only behind Elias Pettersson and WIliam Nylander. Jesper Bratt should be a significant contributor on one of Sweden’s top two lines.
Jacob Markstrom – Sweden
Jacob Markstrom has been a top goalie in the NHL for quite some time. However, with the NHL leaving olympic play in 2014 this will be his first crack at getting to represent his country at the highest level.
Markstrom hasn’t been elite for the Devils this season, but he has been good enough. His .907 save percentage (sv%) and 1.37 goals saved above expected (GSAx), according to Evolving Hockey, as well as one shutout have been good enough to carry the team to a 12-6-1 record in his starts. The statistic that really shines this season for the veteran netminder, however, is his 3.68 GSAx while shorthanded.
Markstrom is going to have to compete for starts, but given his pedigree, and the play of Linus Ullmark this season, Markstrom should be given at least a couple of games to show what he’s got.
Jack Hughes – United States
Similarly to Bratt, Hughes was not part of the initial selection of players for Team USA. However, he was always a lock to be on the squad. While Jack started off the season somewhat slow, he has heated up recently in tune to 11 goals and 33 points in 28 games.
Jack is not only an offensive dynamo but he is solid defensively as well. According to JFresh Hockey, Hughes is in the 98th percentile in all WAR and 70th percentile of even-strength defensive WAR among forwards over the last three and a half seasons. Hughes and Bratt have had an elite connection with the Devils for years, but they’re going to be facing off for the first time this February.
Who Was Left Off?
Dougie Hamilton – Canada
When we wrote about Devils that could play in the tournament last February, Hamilton hadn’t played in months at that point, however, we still put him as a “probable” to make team Canada. In hindsight, that may have been jumping the gun. While he did appear in some projections as a bottom-pair or seventh defenseman, Hamilton was seen as having an outside shot in the months leading up to the roster announcement.
Though that doesn’t mean he’s having a bad year, whatsoever. Similarly to Hughes, Hamilton started off the year slow from a points perspective, but has been heating up recently. This has resulted in him having five goals and 21 points in 28 games so far this season. That would put him on pace for 15 goals and 62 points on the season. 62 points would be the second most in a season for him, only behind his career year in 2022-23.
Brett Pesce – United States
Pesce was never really in consideration for a roster spot on Team USA and that’s a shame since he would fit in nicely as a bottom-pair defensive defenseman. After starting the year hurt, it took Pesce a little bit to find his groove on a new team. However, it seems like things are starting to click for the now 30-year-old defenseman. He collected his first point of the season last weekend against the Washington Capitals and is playing rock solid defense both at even strength and on the penalty kill.
It wouldn’t be completely out of the question to see Brett playing for team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Luke Hughes – United States
Luke is the only of the three Hughes brothers to not make Team USA, which was not a surprise. While the young defenseman is only in his second full NHL season, he is showing each and every game why he will have a really solid shot at playing for Team USA in 2026.
Luke showed his offensive prowise last season scoring 47 points in 82 games as a rookie. This season, partnered with the previously mentioned Brett Pesce, Hughes has taken his defensive game to the next level. While the points haven’t come quite at the same rate for Luke, he has also been quite unlucky. Hughes has 2.08 individual expected goals (ixG) according to Evolving Hockey and 2.3 according to MoneyPuck. This means that he has scored over two full goals under expected this season. His negative two-plus goals scored above expected has him in the top three in the NHL among defenseman despite only playing in 19 games this season.
Things should get better for Luke offensively. When they do, he will be a major threat in the NHL and international play. Look for him, along with his two brothers, to factor into things in 2026.