MANALAPAN, Florida Doug Armstrong and Hockey Canada have already begun scouting players for the 2025 NHL 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, but theres no guarantee the rosters will be identical for both events.

Armstrong, the general manager of the St. Louis Blues, is also the general manager for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics. Hes tasked with assembling the management groups that will lead the national team in various events leading up to the Games in Italy, including the 4 Nations Face-Off scheduled for February 12-20, 2025) and the IIHF World Championships in 2024 and 2025. The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6-22, but the exact dates and schedule for the mens ice hockey tournament in Milan are yet to be confirmed.

Were going to name a management staff for the 4 Nations Face-Off, including a general manager who will appoint a support team, Armstrong said during the NHL general managers meeting. Well be evaluating the playoffs, the start of next season, and picking the best players. While theres a focus on the 2026 Olympics, each event is an opportunity to build the best team for that specific competition. Well take the data from the 4 Nations and use it to move forward.

However, Armstrong emphasized that theres no commitment to having the same staff, coaching, or management for both the 4 Nations Face-Off and the 2026 Olympics https://www.iihfworldchampionship.com/collections/team-finland-niko-mikkola-jersey, although he didnt rule it out entirely. Well look at the 4 Nations roster and make sure theres synergy, and then well go from there. They wont necessarily be combined, Armstrong clarified.

In addition to his Olympic role, Armstrong has already appointed Rick Nash as the general manager for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, set to be held in Czechia from May 10-26. Nash, who has previously served as the assistant GM at the 2022 World Championship where Canada earned silver, is in his third year as the director of player development with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nash, a former NHL player, won Olympic gold with Canada in 2010 and 2014 and played in four World Championships during his career.

Armstrong praised Nashs experience in international tournaments, saying, His experience as a player and in hockey operations with people like John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen makes him a great fit. Hes eager to get started and evaluate players, form a coaching staff, and start building for the future.

The process of selecting the 2026 Olympic team has already begun, but Armstrong noted it is different from his past Olympic experiences 2010 and 2014) due to the absence of best-on-best tournaments since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. With no major international events like the Olympics or World Cup to use as recent references Mika Zibanejad 4NF Jersey, Armstrong and his team will need to evaluate new players who may not have participated in the past.

Its going to be interesting because we havent had a big international event since 2016, Armstrong said. Theres going to be a new group of players who will experience this kind of tournament for the first time, which adds a layer of intrigue. We still have a long way to go, but were beginning the process now.

Armstrong is determined to build a roster with a combination of speed, skill, and sizequalities that he believes are crucial for success in international competitions. The qualities that make a team successful in the NHL typically translate to success internationally. If you can get that combination, youve got the trifecta, Armstrong explained.

One player who Armstrong is certain will be a part of the 2026 Olympic team is Sidney Crosby. I watch Sid play now, and theres no question hell be on the team. Hes still a dominant player in our league, and I dont want to complicate things by overthinking it. With Crosby, theres no issue; hes playing at an elite level.









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