McDavid, MacKinnon And Marner – And Other Lines We'd Love To See At 4 Nations Face-Off

One of the many exciting elements of the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament is the potential for truly thrilling lines.

While there are no guarantees in terms of who will be playing with who, it’s a lot of fun to speculate as to the most prominent lines for Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden.

Let’s take a few stabs at some exciting line possibilities for each of the four countries. Even if they might not be the most realistic options, they're certainly the most fun.

1. Canada: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid And Mitch Marner

We should mention none of these players are normally left wingers. McDavid will very likely be a center and Marner a right wing, while MacKinnon has played at center or the right wing during his career. That said, these three players have the potential for a thoroughly dynamic trio if Canada needs a goal. That line’s offensive capability would be unparalleled, and they can also play very well on defense.

There’s no question Marner, McDavid and MacKinnon have all played on high-end lines with their respective NHL teams, but it’s safe to say none of the three have played on a line this potent. In terms of pure skill, this line would be the best of the best at the 4 Nations Face-Off. This line could also make up Canada’s top power-play unit, but they’re dangerous in all situations and could play incredibly fast.

2. Canada: Brad Marchand, Sidney Crosby And Sam Bennett

Canada’s biggest strength is its depth at forward, and this presumptive second line has it all – great goal-scoring finish from Bennett, high-end two-way dominance from Crosby and grit and fearlessness from Marchand. Canadian coach Jon Cooper can throw out this line in any situation and expect them to play smart defensive hockey while also being able to put the puck in their opponent’s net.

This trio could easily be relied on to generate terrific secondary scoring while allowing few offensive opportunities for the opposition. They’re all Stanley Cup winners and not by accident, and Canada will rely on their championship pedigree to help them win the tournament. But if Canada splits up McDavid and MacKinnon, the latter should be on this line to complete the Nova Scotia trio.

Related: NHL Players Who Could Be On The Move Before 4 Nations Face-Off

3. United States: Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews And Matthew Tkachuk

Many see the U.S. as the favorite to win the 4 Nations Face-Off, and this potential line could prove to be the chief power of their blueprint for success. Having the Tkachuk brothers helping to form America’s top line feels like a no-brainer, but adding Matthews puts this group over the top.

Of course, both Tkachuks and Matthews are legitimate threats to produce offense, while Matthews is one of the most lethal scoring threats on the planet. Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk also played together at the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, while putting the brothers on a line would be a memorable moment. But Matthews’ defensive acumen and the Tkachuks’ robust physical games make this a uniquely skilled line.

4. Sweden: Filip Forsberg, Elias Pettersson And William Nylander

Forsberg told Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi's Randip Janda that Pettersson and Nylander would be his ideal linemates as the 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Swedes aren’t lacking for offensive power, and in Forsberg, Pettersson and Nylander, they’d have a thoroughly impressive line that balances playmaking with play-finishing.

Forsberg is a two-time 40-goal scorer, as is Nylander, and Pettersson's career high is 39 goals. So you’re talking about fantastic all-around offense and considerable speed.

Sweden doesn’t have the depth at forward that the Americans and Canadians have, but with this trio, the Swedes have more than enough skill and determination to be difference-makers. It’s also possible that winger Lucas Raymond could slot in as a replacement for Forsberg in this mix. But although Sweden might not be the front-runner to win the 4 Nations Face-Off, you won’t be able to convince Nylander, Forsberg and Pettersson they don’t have what it takes to pull off a championship.

5. Finland: Sebastian Aho, Aleksander Barkov And Mikko Ranatnen

Aho is a natural center, and he'll likely play on the second line with Patrik Laine, a memorable world juniors duo. But if the Finns are intent on loading up their top line, they could push Aho to left wing in favor of Barkov down the middle. Rounding things out here would be Rantanen, who has notable experience playing with an all-world talent alongside MacKinnon in Colorado.

Barkov is a famously adept two-way threat, and Aho’s speed and creativity, along with Rantanen’s finishing ability, would put opposing defenses on their heels at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Finland would probably be most reliant on this top line to do much of the damage, but Barkov’s elite defense, alongside Rantanen’s offense and Aho’s playmaking talent, makes this potential line a seriously imposing treat.

Related: Could A Team Czechoslovakia Have Contended At The 4-Nations Face-Off?

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