Matthew Tkachuk had some unfinished business at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year. The Panthers’ star suffered an injury midway through the tournament and could only watch as his side fell to the Canadians in the final. Despite already beating Canada once in the round-robin stage, the American team fell behind and exited the tournament with a lot of questions. However, it looks like they are going to remain unanswered at the Men’s Hockey World Championships from 15th – 31st May as well.

The multi-national tournament began yesterday in Stockholm, Sweden, with teams vying for the golden prize. On the opening day of the tournament, the American team got off to a flyer, defeating Denmark 5-0. However, things are going to be challenging going forward as many key names are missing from the United States’ roster for this event.

It’s a problem that was highlighted by the Detroit Red Wings’ Dylan Larkin following the painful 4 Nations loss. “They gotta go to the World Championships and prove themselves and play for their country,” said Larkin. “We gotta start winning that tournament. I think that’s where Canada, those guys go and they play.”

But due to logistical issues, it looks like Larkin’s advice won’t be heeded by Team USA’s biggest stars. The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are going on simultaneously, along with the Championships. As a result, many key American stars will have their hands tied. Among them are the likes of Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk, who are representing the Florida Panthers. The second round of the playoffs finishes on 18th May, so regardless of whether the Panthers progress or not, their participation in the tournament will be out of the question because of the timing.

The 2025 World Championship is also a good opportunity for the players to show what they’ve got in the national team setting ahead of next year’s Olympics. Moreover, with many stars like Marchand, this could be their final chance at Olympic gold. However, with the clash between the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the World Championship, Marchand’s NHL performances will have to do all the talking.

Amid this, the World Championship received a seal of approval from the Minnesota Wild GM, Bill Guerin. During an interview, he explained why the tournament holds so much importance.

World Championship over NHL?

The national team’s duty and playing for franchises in the NHL has been a long-standing debate in the hockey world. Year after year, some of the top stars miss the multi-national event due to their ongoing commitments in the NHL. However, Guerin issued a strong statement amid the dilemma on the two clashing.

He said, “It’s one of those things where if you want to be in one of those tournaments and participate, then, be a part of it. Don’t be a part of it when you want to be a part of it. A lot of the guys we’ve had have gone to the World Championships and done that.”

“If you want to have a better shot of something like the 4 Nations and the Olympics, help us in other areas,” said Guerin. “We need it. It’s not just trying to win the 4 Nations or The Olympics.”

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After winning the 4 Nations tournament, Canada is considered the favorite to win the World Championships, especially in the absence of some big names in the American team. On the other hand, Canada boasts star names like Sidney Crosby, who are raring to go.