All four nations originally wanted bigger rosters, pushing for 25 players instead of 23, but the NHLPA shut it down, citing concerns over too many healthy scratches interfering with players’ schedules. Now? That decision is looking questionable.The pressure is off the charts. The 4 Nations Face-Off has been absolute chaos, and Team Canada was on […]
All four nations originally wanted bigger rosters, pushing for 25 players instead of 23, but the NHLPA shut it down, citing concerns over too many healthy scratches interfering with players’ schedules. Now? That decision is looking questionable.The pressure is off the charts. The 4 Nations Face-Off has been absolute chaos, and Team Canada was on the edge of disaster just hours before their high-stakes showdown with Team USA. With the tournament already draining teams to their core, Canada found itself in a full-on defensive meltdown. But just when it seemed like all hope was lost, the NHL and NHLPA pulled off a wild, last-minute roster exception on Friday, February 14, that could flip the script.
The move has reignited debate over the NHL and NHLPA’s decision to reject roster expansion from 23 to 25 players. The NHLPA opposed the expansion, citing concerns that too many healthy scratches would disrupt players’ vacation schedules during the tournament’s 12-day window. However, the current situation highlights the flaws in that decision, with Canada receiving an emergency exception that seems unfair to the other teams. What’s your take on it? Drop it in the comments below!Sidney Crosby and his squad were already feeling the heat after losing Shea Theodore for the rest of the tournament. Canada dropped the big news on Wednesday night—Theodore was out. Then, just when things couldn’t get worse, Cale Makar missed Friday’s practice with an illness, leaving Canada with only five healthy defensemen. The stakes? Sky-high. And with Team USA waiting to pounce, this wasn’t just a setback—it was straight-up panic mode.
