The Toronto Maple Leafs stars have had the privilege of joining their respective nations for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal and Boston.
This tournament was a huge success for the NHL and their product. It dominated the sports conversation over the last week and only pushed the All-Star game further into irrelevance. This tournament has built up excitement and hype that rivals many Stanley Cup Finals. It has brought eyes to the sport that never would have seen it before.
How does this affect the Leafs?
In terms of the rosters themselves the Leafs big three have had a chance to be surrounded by the best in the game. William Nylander has been the star for Sweden and has had the chance to play alongside experienced stars such as Mika Zibanejad and Victor Hedman.
Of course, the two big names are Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.
Until last night, both had pedestrian tournaments. Matthews only played in two round robin games, and after scoring the OT winner in Game 1, Marner had been demoted and looked fairly invisible.
But in the final, both were outstanding.
Matthews led the way for Team USA with two primary assists and countless scoring chances. Robbed twice in OT, Matthews easily could have been the hero for the States, bringing the country a first place they’ve been yearning for since the 2010 Olympics.
But it wasn’t meant to be, and the better player in the final game of the tournament was Mitch Marner.
Marner also managed two primary assists, on the tying and winning goals of the game. He seemed like one of the only Canadian forwards playing with confidence in the third period and OT, and was promoted back to the first line—which paid off in full.
But let’s go a bit more in depth.
William Nylander‘s uneventful tournament
There was a lot of anticipation about how Nylander would perform in a Sweden jersey considering what he has done in previous tournaments for his country. With Team Sweden out of the tournament before the finals, Nylander finished with an underwhelming two assists.
He had a chance to play alongside quality linemates such as Jesper Bratt and Leo Carlsson. Considering the moment and the rosters, Nylander was quiet and a bit of a non-factor for this team. He was not able to drive the net and be the puck retriever that we have seen in the regular season.
Considering the fact he has been one of the top goal scorers in the league, his lack of scoring was a bit of an issue as there were a couple of moments where he could have stepped up and scored a big goal for the team.
He was not as dynamic and high-flying as we are used to seeing.
Mitch Marner redefining his image?
Mitch Marner had a very unique opportunity to show off his skill and hockey IQ alongside one of the greatest to ever play. Marner started the tournament on a high note scoring the overtime goal in their opening match against Sweden which some may argue is the biggest goal of his career so far.
But the real magic came in the final. Like we’ve discussed, Marner was maybe the best forward on Team Canada last night. He calmed the game down, set up two massive goals on nifty plays, and was defensively responsible without being safe.
There’s no question this was a big tournament for Marner and his image. And he blew expectations out of the water.
If Marner can play like this come April, it gives the Leafs a great chance of going on a run. That’s how impactful he was. What’s yet to be seen is if he can do it in a normal NHL setting. But at least for this tournament, he was fantastic.
Auston Matthews: good but not good enough
The Americans were a powerhouse in this tournament and looked like the best team heading into the finals. Auston Matthews was a solid leader and captain for his team, leading them to two solid wins over Finland and Canada in the round robin.
Without scoring, Matthews was still a force in the finals, even taking the puck off Marner multiple times in dangerous areas.
He was the direct cause of both American goals, and could have easily won them the game in OT in three straight possessions. But it wasn’t enough.
A missed assignment in OT is what ultimately led to Connor McDavid potting the winner, as Matthews didn’t see Marner in the corner until it was too late.
Despite the mistake, Matthews was one of the better players for the States all tournament. He and Marner both proved they can play with the best in high-pressure moments, and hopefully this translates to the NHL playoffs.
