Since the conclusion of the immensely popular 4 Nations Face-Off, hockey fans have been left wondering if the tournament will return in upcoming years. ESPN NHL studio host Steve Levy shared his insights on The Dan Patrick Show, discussing the impact of the tournament’s finale, which brought significant attention back to the NHL. In Canada’s thrilling 3-2 overtime victory over the United States, an average of 9.3 million viewers tuned into the ESPN broadcast, marking it as the most-watched non-Olympic hockey game in the United States since 1988.
Though Levy recognized the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off, he suggested that several international hockey events on the horizon might signal an end for the tournament in its current format. “We needed a spark,” he stated, conveying that fans have grown weary of the All-Star breaks and associated corporate sponsorships. With the Olympics approaching, Levy speculated that the 4 Nations may have served its purpose. “I think this is a one-off. I don’t believe we will see the 4 Nations again. This was a stopgap, despite how successful it was. The NHL has already indicated plans for a World Cup of Hockey, which could involve eight nations, so the current format likely won’t return with the Olympics next year.”
“I think that this is a one-off. I don’t think we ever see 4 Nations again. This was a stopgap despite how successful it was; NHL has already said they’re going to do World Cup of Hockey, and that could be eight nations, eight countries…” – Steve Levypic.twitter.com/gtpdyvA7Ty
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 25, 2025
In response to Patrick’s question about whether treating the 4 Nations Face-Off as a one-time event would be a mistake, Levy emphasized how fortunate the NHL was to have Team USA face off against Team Canada in the final. He noted that the tournament’s perception could have shifted dramatically had the final featured Team Sweden against Team Finland instead. “This could have gone awfully wrong,” he remarked. “Had we seen the Fins and the Swedes in the final, while they have their rivalries, I’m not sure 9.3 million viewers would have tuned in from the U.S.”
As Levy indicated, the 4 Nations Face-Off is unlikely to take place in 2026 or 2028 due to the schedule of the 2026 Winter Olympics and the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Regarding 2027 and 2029, there appear to be no plans from the NHL to host the event as of now. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in a conversation with Rich Eisen, mentioned he “doesn’t have all the right answers yet” regarding the tournament’s future. Perhaps the 4 Nations Face-Off served as a preview of international hockey for viewers at home. However, given the tournament’s success, it seems that an iteration of it could be far more captivating than reverting to their longstanding All-Star Game format from a long-term perspective for the NHL.
Even if the NHL decides against reviving the 4 Nations Face-Off in its familiar form, the league now possesses a blueprint for what resonates with fans during the All-Star break, a luxury that other major sports leagues, like the NBA and NFL, cannot claim. Therefore, there may still be opportunities for the NHL to integrate elements of the 4 Nations Face-Off without overwhelming fans’ interest in international hockey.
