Jon Cooper was in celebration mode.
Canada had just won a 3-2 spectacular victory against the United States to capture the 4 nations.
While the bottles of champagne broke out and the cans of beer cracked after the winner of Connor McDavid in overtime Thursday evening, the country’s head coach was already starting to think about the NHL Back to the Olympic Games.
“It is immeasurable what happened here,” said Cooper, a cup of something stronger than the coffee by his side, said that the League returns to a high -level international competition. “To be around this group and understand who we have, how they can play, what they can do, establish relationships.
“We are still much further.”
The League will be back at the Olympic Games in 12 months after the last participation 11 years ago. The NHL took place in five consecutive games between 1998 and 2014, but 2018 bailed out for financial reasons before having 2022 plans abandoned by the concerns of COVVI-19.
The 4 nations, which also included Sweden and Finland, were served as an enticing aperitif for fans of the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, on deck.
And it was crucial for national programs that rarely get the best talents under one roof at the same time.
“Huge,” said Swedish head coach Sam Hallam, whose country has finished third despite losing any of his regulatory preliminary round games.
“The learning points that we attracted for this tournament were tall – in terms of the system, in terms of the team character, which we need to improve to change small margins to our advantage.”
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Canadian captain Sidney Crosby scored in OT to beat Americans for gold at the 2010 Olympic Games before leading the country to another podium performance four years later. But after almost a decade without anything resembling the best hockey after the 2016 World Cup, he said it was important to acclimatize the next generation.
“It was something that everyone really expected,” said 37 -year -old Pittsburgh’s 37 -year -old captain. “Above all, we with such a new group.”
“He is a trusted manufacturer knowing that we can beat anyone,” added McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers.
Canada Nathan Mackinnon – The 4 Nations MVP with four goals – is in its 12th NHL season, but shot the red maple leaf for the first time against the best of the game.
“Feel like a little child who came to this tournament,” said Colorado Avalanche Center.
“I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know where you really sit down. In a year, it will be much more comfortable. ”
Finnish striker Patrik Laine des Canadiens de Montréal said that his group had a better understanding of what this level of competition needs.
“It’s a good springboard to the Olympic Games to see where we are,” he said.
“Everyone needs to see what he needs to work on.”
William Nylander, Sweden, said that his country was well served by the big scene of the tournament.
“It gave us some confidence, to be honest, to play in tight matches with the best teams, the best players in the world,” said the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It’s very good for us to enter the Olympic Games.”
The NHL also announced its goal of restarting the World Cup cycle in 2028 in the hope of having the best alternate tournaments every two years.
The American striker Dylan Larkin said that the immediate lesson of his program is that the foundations are built not only during high -level events such as the Olympic Games, the World Cups or the 4 unique nations, but by involving Players at the world championships every spring if their seasons of the NHL teams are over.
“This is where it starts,” said Captain Detroit Red Wings. “Pride for your country, pride for the flag and this crest. It has increased the game very well, but I hope it pushes guys to blame a song. »»
The Swedish defender Erik Karlsson said that competition in high pressure situations like those in Montreal and Boston cannot be updated.
“There are not several times that you have the opportunity to play games where it is only a match and it is to do or die,” said the penguins of Pittsburgh. “It’s like a match 7. They are difficult to find. We obtained three this tournament. I hope we take the right lessons. »»
The 4 nations settled the table. The main Olympic dish is not far on the road.
“This tournament will help us move forward as a group,” said Cooper, a double winner of the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning. “It was a huge success all around. Going to Milan, it’s a big step. »»
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press