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P.K. Subban: USA vs. Canada 4 Nations Face-Off Could be Bigger Than Stanley Cup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Feb 20, 2025 10:32 AM ET

If there’s anyone in hockey that understands the magnitude of Thursday’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game between Team USA and Canada at the TD Garden in Boston, it’s former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman P.K. Subban.

The retired three-time NHL All-Star played for both a Canadian team — the Montreal Canadiens — and American teams — the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils — during his 13-year career, so he knows firsthand just how rowdy each country’s fan bases can be.

So when Subban was asked to contextualize Thursday’s 4 Nations championship game, he went as far as to say the tournament final could be even bigger and have more hype than this year’s Stanley Cup Final.

“The game has never been bigger than where it is today,” Subban said on ESPN’s “Get Up.” “That’s exactly the opportunity that these guys have — to play for something bigger than themselves. Some of these guys have never even played in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but people are saying that this game is bigger than the Stanley Cup games last year and any Stanley Cup game that we’re going to see this year, so that puts it into perspective the opportunity that these guys have, and they’re ready for their moment.

“The whole world will be watching tonight, they’re going to leave it all on the ice, it’s going to be a tremendous show, and I’m going to tell you, buckle up, strap in, pack a lunch, dinner, breakfast for tomorrow morning — whatever you need to do to get ready for tonight because it’s all going to boil over.”

"People are saying that this game is bigger than the Stanley Cup game last year and any Stanley Cup game that we're going to see this year. ... Buckle up."

—@PKSubban1 on Team USA facing Canada in a winner-take-all in the 4 Nations Face-Off pic.twitter.com/DdWPNMSTjG
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 20, 2025

Subban himself played in a Stanley Cup Final with Nashville back in 2017. The injury-depleted Predators fell in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the team’s first-ever Cup Final appearance.

Thursday’s game is so big that Team USA general manager Bill Guerin even made a plea to U.S. President Donald Trump to attend the game in support of the Americans, though Trump reportedly won’t be there.

Team USA beat Canada 3-1 in their previous 4 Nations matchup earlier in the tournament.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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