With the off-season in full swing this week, each country’s first six players for the Four Nations Cup were announced on Friday afternoon, and two Toronto Maple Leafs forwards were chosen to represent their homelands.
William Nylander, a sniping winger for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been picked as one of six players to represent Team Sweden in the 2025 in-season competition.
Nylander was chosen alongside Tampa Bay Lightning Victor Hedman, Pittsburgh Penguin Erik Karlsson, Florida Panther Gustav Forsling, Nashville Predators Filip Forsberg, and New York Rangers Mika Zibanejad.
Auston Matthews, a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, was an obvious choice for Team USA because he is not only the best contemporary American-born player, but also the leading scorer in the world right now. Matthews will be joined by Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, New York Rangers Adam Fox, Vegas Golden Knights Jack Eichel, Boston Bruins Charlie McAvoy, and Florida Panther Matthew Tkachuk.
The tournament occurs during the season next February and will replaced the now boring All-Star Game. Many are hoping the NHL returns to the more traditional World Cup that includes more of the countries that will allow more of the superstars to participate.
Nylander and Matthews will be known as the Core 2 in Toronto in the near future since they are the only two of the team’s top forwards who have signed contracts beyond this season. Both inked extensions this year, with Matthews signing on for four more years and Nylander vowing to stay for eight years.
Matthews recently won his third Rocket Richard Trophy and set the post-salary cap period single-season scoring record with 69 goals, while also being named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay, Frank J. Selke, and Lady Byng Trophies. Matthews’ next move will most likely be a captaincy announcement with the club over the next thirteen months.
Nylander recently completed his second consecutive 40-goal season, joining Matthews, Lanny McDonald, Rick Vaive, Darryl Sittler, and Mats Sundin as Maple Leafs players to do so. The Calgarian-Swede was also on the verge of being only the fourth player in franchise history to reach 100 points in a season, but he only recorded three assists in his final nine games, leaving him with 98.
With the first six players announced for each competing nation, the question remains: will any additional Toronto Maple Leafs join Matthews and Nylander in the tournament?