Five New York Rangers will compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off from February 12-20.
Kaapo Kakko was selected to represent Finland early Wednesday, followed by forward Chris Kreider and center Vincent Trocheck being named to Team USA a few hours later. They join Mika Zibanejad (Sweden) and Adam Fox (United States), who were among the first players announced for the tournament in late June.
No Rangers were chosen for Team Canada, which also revealed its roster Wednesday evening.
The NHL introduced the 4 Nations Face-Off this year to replace the annual All-Star Game. This round-robin international tournament features the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland, with games set to take place in Montreal and Boston.
Six players were initially announced for each team in June, with the remaining rosters made public Wednesday.
The Florida Panthers lead all teams with eight players in the tournament, followed by the Vegas Golden Knights with seven. The Rangers, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Minnesota Wild each have five players, tying for third place.
Kreider, Trocheck, Kakko picked to play at 4 Nations Face-Off
Chris Kreider ranks second on the Rangers with 10 goals, including the only goal in New York’s 5-1 defeat to the New Jersey Devils on Monday. Don’t be surprised if Team USA coach Mike Sullivan relies on Kreider for special teams, as four of his goals have come on the power play, and two were scored while the Rangers were shorthanded.
Vincent Trocheck, who has six goals and 12 points in 24 games, was asked about the possibility of making Team USA following Wednesday’s Rangers practice.
“It’s a huge honor to put the United States crest on your shirt,” Trocheck said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play in a few events with Team USA… it’s a lot of fun every time.”
Kaapo Kakko’s selection to represent Finland wasn’t unexpected, as he had appeared on some of the most recent projected rosters. Still, getting official confirmation was likely a welcome moment for the 23-year-old forward.
“It’s always nice to play for your country,” Kakko said after practice Wednesday. “So, we’ll see.”
Often criticized for not fully living up to his status as the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kakko has developed into a key third-line player for the Rangers. He plays an important defensive role, and the team has outscored opponents 20-7 with Kakko on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick.
While Kakko may not have the standout numbers of a superstar, his stats are likely better than many realize. He averages 2.27 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, ahead of international teammate Mikko Rantanen, who has 2.21.
Like Mika Zibanejad, Kakko has found success playing for his country. He won a gold medal at the 2019 World Junior Championships and later that year, scored six goals in 10 games to help Finland win gold at the IIHF World Championship.
“That was in Finland, so that was really special,” Kakko said, reflecting on that 2019 victory.
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