Barkov, Hedman Named Captains for 4 Nations Face-Off

Aleksander Barkov has been named captain of Team Finland for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, marking his first international captaincy. He will be joined by NHL stars Mikko Rantanen, Sebastian Aho, and Mikael Granlund as assistant captains. Barkov, who led the Florida Panthers to their first Stanley Cup victory as the first Finnish captain, has had a successful NHL career, including multiple All-Star selections and a reputation as one of the best two-way players. The tournament, featuring teams from Finland, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S., begins on February 12 in Montreal and will include a round-robin format before the championship game on February 20. The announcement follows Barkov's recent recognition at the Finnish Sports Gala, where he was named Athlete of the Year. As Finland prepares for the tournament, excitement builds around the best-on-best competition since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.