Instead of an NHL All-Star Game, top stars from four nations will face off for a midseason international tournament starting Wednesday in Boston and Montreal. Why it matters: The 4 Nations Face-Off is meant to herald the NHL's return to the Winter Olympics — but,

The NHL is hitting pause on the 2024-25 regular season, but it's not for an All-Star break — it's for the 4 Nations Face-Off. The USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland are bringing 23 players from the NHL to a week-long competition starting in Montreal and ending in Boston.

The 2025 4 Nations Face-Off is officially here! In lieu of the NHL All-Star Game, the league has pulled the top players from four countries for a week-long tournament to determine the best of the best. Ahead of the proceedings, check out our breakdown of the 4 Nations Face-Off schedule along with our explainer of the whole tournament.