NHL Notebook: League announces 4 Nations Face-Off schedule, increase to salary cap
24 days ago
The NHL and NHLPA have revealed the hosts for the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off and its corresponding schedule.
In February 2025, Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland will take centre stage, with the top players from each nation competing head-to-head for the first time since the 2016 World Cup.
The NHL announced on Saturday that Montreal’s Bell Centre and Boston’s TD Garden will be the host venues throughout the tournament. The Bell Centre will host the first four games, starting with a Canada vs. Sweden matchup on February 12th. Then, the countries will shift for the final three games and the championship at TD Garden.
The tournament will kick off on February 12th, 2025, and run through February 20th. Each of the four teams will have the chance to play one another, with the top two teams progressing to the final. It promises an intense and action-packed week of hockey’s best.
The first official group of players will be announced on June 28th ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft. However, that doesn’t stop NHL.com senior staff writers from projecting Canada‘s, the United States’, Sweden’s, and Finland‘s roster back in February.
Five Oilers were projected for those rosters, with Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, Evan Bouchard and Stuart Skinner listed for Canada, and Mattias Ekholm for Sweden.
The tournament will follow a traditional round-robin format and will be played in accordance with NHL rules. Here’s a look at the full schedule:
Feb. 12: Canada vs. Sweden, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 13: U.S. vs. Finland, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 15: Canada vs. U.S., 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (TD Garden)
Feb. 17: Sweden vs. U.S., 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (TD Garden)
Feb. 20: Championship game, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (TD Garden)
Feb. 13: U.S. vs. Finland, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 15: Finland vs. Sweden, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 15: Canada vs. U.S., 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (Bell Centre)
Feb. 17: Canada vs. Finland, 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT (TD Garden)
Feb. 17: Sweden vs. U.S., 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (TD Garden)
Feb. 20: Championship game, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (TD Garden)
NHLPA announce salary cap range for 2024-25
NHL teams will have an extra handful of money to spend on players next season after the league and NHLPA announced a 5.4 percent bump to the salary cap.
On Saturday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman revealed that the maximum salary cap for 2024-25 will rise by $4.5 million from the current $83.5 million to $88 million.
This cap increase is not just a financial decision. It’s a result of the players’ commitment to the league, as they have been diligently paying off their debt from the COVID-19 pandemic. This debt was incurred when the league allowed players to receive money upfront due to the sparse crowds in arenas and the overall shortened season.
The collective bargaining agreement decided back at the height of the pandemic has increased by an underwhelming $1 million yearly, making this the most significant jump thus far.
The salary floor is $65 million, with a midpoint of $76.5 million and an upper limit of $88 million.
For the Edmonton Oilers – who are facing off against the Florida Panthers on Saturday in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final – have a projected cap space of $10,033,333 with nine unrestricted free agents.
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