The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off final between Canada and the U.S. marks the end of the week-long tournament that’s been a massive commercial success.
The round-robin match-up between the two nations on Saturday attracted 10.1 million viewers across North America, more than any non-Stanley Cup Final hockey game since 2014.
It’s safe to say the final is set to usurp those figures.
There has been a lack of best-on-best men’s hockey at the top level since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (WCOH) due to a myriad of reasons.
U.S. captain Auston Matthews says he thinks a reason for the tournament’s success is the absence of best-on-best in the past nine years.
“It’s been a while,” he said. “It’s something that the players have been craving and looking forward to, and I think the fans, as well.”
Tensions surrounding the location of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics led to no NHL participation in the tournament. The WCOH was not repeated in 2020 or 2024, and implications from the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL out of the 2022 Olympics.
The 4 Nations Face-Off essentially replaced the NHL All-Star Game this year, and these numbers blow all-star competitions out of the water.
The Canada versus U.S. showdown in Montreal had nearly five times as many viewers as the all-star game was averaging the last few years, and the rest of the 4 Nations games are trending higher as well.
It’s clear the players have missed playing best-on-best, even if before the 4 Nations Face-Off there were plenty of detractors.
“Everyone thought these might be all-star games,” Canada forward Brandon Hagel told reporters ahead of the final.
“I remember thinking to myself before the [opening] game, if this is going to be an all-star type thing I’m going to be so out of place because I’m putting my head through a wall tomorrow,” he said.
The good news is international best-on-best men’s hockey isn’t going anywhere.
The NHL and NHLPA are already committed to the 2026 and 2030 Olympics, which will be held in Milan and the French Alps, respectively. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman formally announced the return of the WCOH in 2028.
Hockey fan Peter Stewart says the intensity of the tournament has exceeded his expectations.
“I thought the players would care more than an all-star game, but I did not think the players would care as much as they’re caring right now,” he said.
“They’re playing like it’s the Olympics and I did not expect that because it’s only like a four-nations thing in the middle of the season,” Stewart said.
On the ice, the players are focused on the big game.
American star Jack Eichel said the final will be one of the biggest games he’s ever played in.
“Means the world, you’re representing your country,” he said. “This is huge, it’s the biggest game I’ve played in quite some time, maybe ever.”
Stewart echoed Eichel’s sentiments of excitement ahead of the final Thursday night.
“I’ve never been this pumped for a hockey game in so long,” he said. “Honestly, it feels like a gold medal Olympic game just because it hasn’t happened in so long and it’s U.S. versus Canada.”
Another factor that heightens the stakes is the current political tension between the two countries.
Between Donald Trump’s repeated threats of annexation of Canada, which he doubled down on this morning on social media before giving a call to the American locker room this morning, and Canadian fans responding by booing the U.S. anthem, this game has evolved into one with a serious political edge.
Additionally, with the Ontario provincial election just a week away, the Liberals, NDP and Conservatives are all expected to take advantage of the massive audience and run ads throughout the game.
