"American sports fans didn't get their happy ending": Analyst labels 4 Nations Face-Off a failure for NHL due to Canada's win over USA

The 4 Nations Face-Off was a resounding success in many fans' eyes, but it failed to deliver the outcome the NHL intended, according to analyst Sean McIndoe.

In a piece published on July 25 in The Athletic, McIndoe answered a reader's question regarding the "overwhelming success" the 4 Nations Face-Off brought to the NHL.

While McIndoe concurred that the tournament delivered on expectations, there was one particular aspect where he felt it failed: The US didn’t win the tournament.

McIndoe stated:

“Short of a Team USA win, this year’s tournament delivered everything you could ask for. Fans of other sports were hooked because what they were watching didn’t look anything like the leagues they were used to.”

According to McIndoe, the 4 Nations Face-Off was intended to market hockey, and the fact that the US didn’t win was a blow to the NHL.

“American sports fans will dip in to sample best-on-best hockey, as the record ratings for the 4 Nations final show. But they want to see a happy ending. They didn’t get it this year…”

McIndoe highlighted how the lack of a US victory at a major tournament leaves American hockey fans recalling the famous 1980 win at the Lake Placid Olympics as the greatest moment in American hockey.

“Until Team USA can deliver that sort of moment again, nothing is going to be a 'success' for the NHL, in any way that matters to league leadership.”

Perhaps the US will get that chance at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Games. A gold medal there would be the ultimate prize for American hockey.

2026 Olympics matter more than 4 Nations Face-Off for many players

The US hopes to take home the gold at the 2026 Olympics - Source: Imagn

Team USA’s loss in the 4 Nations Face-Off final was a bitter one. But that is now in the past, and they will now need to set their sights on the 2026 Olympics.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin told The Athletic back in February that he was relishing the opportunity to play with this group once again:

“There is something to look forward to with this group, which is great. That’s the big one. And I know that it’s a little bit of a different tournament, different rules, but we really feel like we can play any kind of game on any kind of surface and anywhere against anyone.”

The Americans hope that the squad led by superstars Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel can finally get over the hump and bring home a major best-on-best tournament win for the US.

Team USA’s biggest rival will be Canada. But there will also be other highly talented teams like Sweden, Finland, Slovakia, and Czechia. Plus, the expectation is that a Russian team will suit up even if it’s under neutral colors.

Ultimately, the 4 Nations Face-Off was a significant event for the US. But the one that truly matters for many of the players will come next February in Italy. A gold medal there could make all the bad memories go away for good.