The National Hockey League announced during All-Star weekend that it will resume international play in 2025.
There was a lot of excitement in Toronto with the announcement of the “4 Nations Face-Off.” The best players in the league from the US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden will compete for their nations over the course of eight days in a round-robin format. When the four nations go off for this inaugural event, two locations in North America will share hosting duties.
With the yearly All-Star celebrations becoming stale, the international event is a nice addition. But some big names, like the explosive David Pastrnak, will be missing this special competition.
Not much that I can say. Pastrnak expressed his displeasure after his latest All-Star Game appearance. “I am aware of the short turnaround time. You know, they probably didn’t have much time to create a bigger tournament because it’s next year. However, Czechia is absent, and numerous other participants will be overlooked.
Real players like Roman Josi (Switzerland) and Leon Draisaitl (Germany) will either plan a trip or watch their colleagues, like Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, fight for gold on February 12–20.
Fortunately, the league will be participating in international competitions beyond the “4 Nations Face-Off” for holdovers like Pastrnak, Draisaitl, and Josi.
The best hockey players in the world will eventually return to the Winter Olympics in 2026 and 2030, following an eight-year break.
For the first international competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, Pastrnak will play for his home Czechia, barring an injury or a notable decline in output.
“I’m ecstatic,” Pastrnak exclaimed. “I told the truth from the beginning. It was obvious that I was really irritated. Even though I’ve already missed two of them, I’m excited about it.
Following a pause in 2018 for the Pyongyang Olympics, the league intended to send its players to Beijing in four years. Following a further wave of COVID-19 cases in late December 2021, the league had to postpone the 2022 tournament in China’s capital city for a few weeks, ultimately abandoning their plans.
When Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, two Italian cities, split hosting duties in two years, a few current Bruins are still on track to represent their country. Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy in particular told NHLPA Executive Director and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh how much they wanted the league to play in the Olympics again.
I’ve wanted to do it since I was a young child. After losing a wager with Bruins assistant coach John McLean, McAvoy remarked, “I have to do everything I can to put myself in position to be on that team,” donning a Boston College hat.
“I mentioned to Marty Walsh that I really wanted to be a part of it and that we really wanted to be a part of the last one that we were unable to attend, along with Pasta and a number of other individuals. Yes, being a part of that event will be a dream come true.
In 2018 and 2022, McAvoy would have been under American scrutiny. A few months before the 2026 games, he will turn 28. He’ll know more about his position in Team USA’s decision-making process before then.
Likewise, Pastrnak of Czechia, who will turn thirty if and/or when he plays in the Olympics, will.
“I’ll be thirty,” laughed Pastrnak. “Hopefully, I get on the team.”
Even the crystal ball seems to indicate that Pastrnak still has a good chance of fulfilling one of his aspirations.
That, Pastrnak remarked, is the dream. “Hopefully, in a few years, I can realize my dream.”