Seth Jarvis over Connor Bedard? Carolina Hurricanes wing surprise Team Canada addition

If Seth Jarvis had planned on having free time in February, maybe getting in another resort trip during a break in the NHL season, the Carolina Hurricanes forward now has other plans.

Jarvis is going to the 4 Nations Face-Off, playing for Team Canada, and is one of three players representing the Canes in the international event.

The complete rosters were announced Wednesday for the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden for an international event being billed as the “best against the best,” to be played in Montreal and Boston from Feb. 12-20.

Defenseman Jaccob Slavin was named to the U.S. team Wednesday, while center Sebastian Aho was one of the first six players announced to Team Finland in June.

Neither of the latter selections was a surprise — Aho and Slavin are former NHL All-Stars — but Jarvis’ selection might have been given the attention given to another young Canadian forward and potential choice: 19-year-old Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jarvis is 22, and in his fourth year in the NHL. Despite an upper-body injury this season, the winger has seven goals and nine assists (16 points) in 18 games and has become one of the league’s more dynamic forwards.

A first-round draft pick by Carolina in 2020, Jarvis was second among Hurricanes skaters in goals (33) and points (67) in 2023-24. He established career highs in goals, assists (34), points, power-play goals (13), shorthanded goals (2) and game-winning goals (9).

The Hurricanes made a long-term commitment to Jarvis in the offseason, signing the Winnipeg native to an eight-year, $63.2 million contract in the offseason.

Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said this week he had mixed emotions about having his players in the event.

“You just run the risk. From our standpoint there is no benefit,” he said. “But as a player, I think it’s great. I do want them to experience that. It’s more being around other players you battle all the time and hate ‘em and then get the opportunity to be with them and play in a huge event.”

“It means a lot. It’s a nice refresher to change things up and add a little spice during the season where it gets Groundhog Day-ish. Hopefully it will be exciting for everyone watching.”

Several players in the international event have Hurricanes ties. Also on Team USA are former Canes defenseman Noah Hanifin and forward Jake Guentzel. Former Canes center Elias Lindholm is on Team Sweden and former winger Teuvo Teravainen is on the Finnish team alongside Aho.