Super 16 Werenski Matthews 4NF bug

The 4 Nations Face-Off is now less than two weeks away. It begins Feb. 12 at Bell Centre in Montreal. Most NHL teams have six, seven or eight games remaining before the League breaks for the first best-on-best hockey tournament since the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

It's time to start looking at how the players selected to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off are doing. Who is playing well? Who is on a tear? Who is setting himself and his country up for success in the tournament that runs from Feb. 12-20 in Montreal and Boston?

Continue reading the NHL.com Super 16 power rankings to find out, because of course, we have some answers for you.

Ironically, the best team in League, the top team in the Super 16 for the third consecutive week doesn't have a single player preparing for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but the Washington Capitals could still have a representative depending on injuries.

As a reminder, to come up with the Super 16 each week, the 14 voters this week put together their own version of what they think the rankings should look like and a point total is assigned to each, with the team selected first given 16 points, second 15, third 14, and so on.

Here is the who's hot heading into the 4 Nations Face-Off edition of the Super 16:

1. Washington Capitals (34-11-5)

Total points: 221
Last week: No. 1

"Of the Capitals players who could potentially be called upon as injury replacements, Logan Thompson has been playing the best and should be No. 1 on Team Canada's list if it needs a goalie. Thompson has played at a high level all season, but he's been lights out the past month-plus. In 12 games (11 starts) since Dec. 22, he's 11-0-1 with a 1.45 goals-against average, .949 save percentage and two shutouts. Washington on Monday rewarded the 27-year-old with a six-year, $35.1 million contract that begins next season." --Tom Gulitti, senior writer

2. Winnipeg Jets (35-14-3)

Total points: 209
Last week: No. 2

"Kyle Connor continues to have one of the hottest sticks in the NHL. The forward should be a key offensive driver for Team USA at 4 Nations Face-Off, just like he is for the Jets. Connor had his sixth multigoal game in Winnipeg's 4-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday; the only player in the NHL with more is Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers (seven). His 29 goals are tied for second in the League and four more than any United States-born player. His average of 1.25 points per game (65 points in 52 games) is the highest of his nine-season NHL career, and second among U.S.-born players after 4 Nations teammate Jack Eichel (1.28)." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

3. Edmonton Oilers (32-15-3)

Total points: 194
Last week: No. 4

"It's easy to say Oilers captain Connor McDavid would be the player to watch at the 4 Nations Face-Off the way he is playing, but a player who is primed to have a monster tournament is defenseman Mattias Ekholm for Team Sweden. Ekholm is having another outstanding season and could be the biggest difference-maker on the defensive end of the ice. He's averaging 22:45 of ice time, gets all the tough defensive assignments and leads Oilers defensemen at plus-20 in 50 games. Since arriving in a trade with the Nashville Predators on Feb. 28, 2023, Ekholm is plus-92 in 150 games. He has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) with three-power play goals this season despite being on Edmonton's second unit, which rarely gets more than 30 seconds on a man-advantage. If Sweden is able come up with a big upset at 4 Nations, it will likely happen because of the play of its defensemen. Ekholm is expected to be a big part of that." -- Derek Van Diest, staff writer

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      BOS@EDM: Ekholm fires home a pass to win it in overtime

      4. Vegas Golden Knights (31-15-5)

      Total points: 170
      Last week: No. 3

      "Jack Eichel has shined in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Stanley Cup Final, and now he'll get to shine on the world stage at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He's been Vegas' best player all season and red-hot with 10 points (five goals, five assists) in seven games since Jan. 17. He leads the Golden Knights and is eighth in the NHL with 64 points and his 48 assists are fourth. The United States is getting a player at the top of his game and a motivated one. Earlier this season, Eichel said 4 Nations is a 'great opportunity to prove' that the United States has closed the gap and is right on par with Canada. If it happens, bank on Eichel playing a big role." -- Dan Rosen, senior writer

      5. Carolina Hurricanes (31-16-4)

      Total points: 167
      Last week: No. 7

      "Seth Jarvis told NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen on Tuesday that he would play '[expletive] right D if they need me to' for Canada at 4 Nations. Honestly, the way he's playing lately, he could be in the top six forward group. Jarvis leads the Hurricanes with 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 16 games since Dec. 28. He leads Carolina this season with 19 goals and is third with 39 points. He might be the most underrated player in the tournament, but that will change in the next few weeks." -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief

      6. Dallas Stars (32-17-1)

      Total points: 164
      Last week: No. 6

      "As 4 Nations gets closer, I have to go with Roope Hintz. The forward has always been fun to watch, given his blazing speed and good hands. He had three assists in a 4-3 overtime win against the Golden Knights on Tuesday and is on a three-game point streak (one goal, four assists). Since the start of January, he's winning 55.1 percent of his face-offs. Hintz missed three games earlier this month with an upper-body injury, but he's been looking like his steady, productive self again in recent games. Just in time for him to be a big help for Team Finland." -- Tracey Myers, staff writer

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          OTT@DAL: Hintz nets his second goal of game in 2nd period

          7. Toronto Maple Leafs (30-19-2)

          Total points: 143
          Last week: No. 5

          "Auston Matthews is on the type of streak that must have Team USA general manager Bill Guerin eager for the 4 Nations Face-Off to start. The Maple Leafs captain has nine goals in 12 games and is unleashing his patented lethal shot with the velocity and accuracy that saw him score 69 times last season. Matthews missed nine games from Nov. 5-30 and another six from Dec. 21-Jan. 4 with an upper-body injury that bothered him since training camp, leaving questions concerning how effective he could and would be upon his return. The eye test and score sheet suggests the ailment is not hindering his quick release, which is his most potent weapon. All in all, very positive news for Guerin and his staff." -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

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              TOR@CAR: Matthews chips the puck in for a PPG while falling to the ice

              8. Florida Panthers (30-19-3)

              Total points: 117
              Last week: No. 9

              "Offensive depth is a huge concern for Finland, so Anton Lundell's extended run of success since the New Year is something to smile about. The two-way forward has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 15 games and is plus-5, second-best among Florida forwards. If Lundell can continue to produce during 4 Nations, Finland is a far more dangerous team." -- Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

              9. Minnesota Wild (30-17-4)

              Total points: 109
              Last week: No. 8

              "Matt Boldy is the clear standout, which is obviously great news if you are a Team USA fan. Though the Wild are 8-6-0 this month, the 23-year-old forward has kept them afloat with his offense and workload capacity by skating nearly 27 minutes twice in six days. Boldy has five multipoint games and leads Minnesota with 14 points (five goals, nine assists), 1.08 points per game and two game-winning goals in January, doing most of it in the absence of injured forward Kirill Kaprizov. A solid roster selection by USA Hockey." -- Paul Strizhevsky, staff writer

              10. New Jersey Devils (29-18-6)

              Total points: 85
              Last week: No. 12

              "Jack Hughes continues to put up the points and has even played a key role on the penalty kill this season. Hughes, who said he'd welcome the opportunity to play wing next to Matthews for the United States, leads the Devils in points (60 points; 20 goals, 40 assists), power-play points (26; five goals) and game-winning goals (seven)." -- Mike G. Morreale, senior draft writer

              11. Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2)

              Total points: 84
              Last week: No. 10

              "Nathan MacKinnon may be in a three-game goal drought, but he's still getting points on nearly a nightly basis and leads the NHL with 78 (19 goals, 59 assists) in 52 games. It will be interesting to see what his line looks for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Will he play wing with fellow Nova Scotia natives Sidney Crosby and Brad Marchand? Or maybe between Mitch Marner and Sam Reinhart? Whatever coach Jon Cooper decides, it's going to be fascinating." -- Brian Compton, managing editor

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                  MIN@COL: MacKinnon puts on a show and evens the game at 1

                  12. Los Angeles Kings (26-16-6)

                  Total points: 83
                  Last week: No. 11

                  "Adrian Kempe is the lone Kings player participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off and leads them in goals (24), points (44) and plus-minus (plus-18) in 48 games. He somehow remains an underrated player in the League despite being on pace for at least 30 goals for the third time in four seasons." -- David Satriano, staff writer

                  13. Ottawa Senators (26-20-4)

                  Total points: 48
                  Last week: No. 15

                  "Brady Tkachuk (United States) and Linus Ullmark (Sweden) were selected to play in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Ullmark could return this week from a tweaked back after he was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Senators coach Travis Green said. Prior to leaving after the first period of a 3-1 loss to the Oilers on Dec. 22, Ullmark was 8-0-1 with a 1.43 GAA and .954 save percentage in his previous nine starts. Tkachuk, who will be playing with his brother, Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk, has one point in his past 11 games. The Senators have six games remaining before the tournament, more than enough time for their captain to get hot." -- Jean-Francois Chaumont, journalist principal LNH.com

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                      PIT@OTT: Ullmark makes great stick save on Karlsson in 1st period

                      14. Tampa Bay Lightning (26-20-3)

                      Total points: 39
                      Last week: No. 13

                      "It's been a tough stretch for the Lightning with one goal in their past two games and seven in their past four. But I'll give this to Brandon Hagel, who has impressed me in a breakout season with 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 49 games, putting him within reach of his NHL career high of 30 goals in 2022-23, and 75 points set last season. The Lightning have five players going to 4 Nations: Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Brayden Point -- who also easily could have gotten the nod here -- playing for Canada, Jake Guentzel for the United States and Victor Hedman for Sweden. The latter three are liable to go off at any time, so I wouldn't count them out." -- Amalie Benjamin, senior writer

                      15. Columbus Blue Jackets (24-19-7)

                      Total points: 32
                      Last week: NR

                      "The Blue Jackets have one player going to 4 Nations, and it's a pretty good one. Zach Werenski is one of the top defensemen for the United States and playing huge minutes on a team that seems to keep getting better. Werenski scored his 16th goal of the season in a 3-2 overtime win against the Kings on Saturday. He also had an unsuccessful penalty shot. He is two points behind Canada's Cale Makar (Avalanche) and Team USA's Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks) for the most points among defensemen in the League. His 28 points in 26 games lead his position since Dec. 5." -- Rosen

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                          LAK@CBJ: Werenski kicks off scoring in opening period

                          16. Calgary Flames (24-18-7)

                          Total points: 19
                          Last week: No. 16

                          "As of now, defenseman Rasmus Andersson is the only Flames player going to 4 Nations. His season has just been OK; nothing great, nothing bad. He has 19 points in 49 games, but is playing big minutes, 24:14 per game, the most on the Flames and 16th in the League. He's going to be a solid player for Sweden. He can be a play driver too. What is interesting is that the Flames soon could have another representative. MacKenzie Weegar is in the conversation to be named by Canada as Alex Pietrangelo's replacement. Pietrangelo will not play in the tournament because of an ailment he needs to look after. Weegar leads Flames defensemen with 25 points. He plays 23:27 per game and well enough all season to earn a spot on Canada's blue line. It remains to be seen if he will." -- Rosen

                          Others receiving points: Boston Bruins 7, Detroit Red Wings 6, New York Rangers 3, Montreal Canadiens 3, Vancouver Canucks 1

                          Dropped out from last week: Canadiens (No. 14)

                          Enterprise Team of the Week: The No. 2 Jets have the second-longest active winning streak in the League at four games behind a five-game run by the New York Islanders, including victories against the No. 11 Avalanche and No. 16 Flames. Outside of a 10-game stretch from Nov. 14-Dec. 3, when they were 3-7-0, the Jets are a remarkable 31-7-3 this season and 17-6-3 since that 10-game stretch. They have three players going to the 4 Nations Face-Off: Connor, goalie Connor Hellebuyck (United States) and defenseman Josh Morrissey (Canada). Hellebuyck is the favorite to be the No. 1 for Team USA. He's been the best goalie in the League; 31-7-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .927 save percentage and six shutouts. Morrissey is fifth among defensemen with 43 points (five goals, 38 assists) and playing 24:01 per game. Adam Kimelman outlined Connor's season in the above paragraph about the Jets. Winnipeg just keeps getting it done. -- Rosen

                          HERE'S HOW WE RANKED 'EM

                          AMALIE BENJAMIN

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Calgary Flames; 15. Ottawa Senators; 16. Columbus Blue Jackets

                          JEAN-FRANCOIS CHAUMONT

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Vegas Golden Knights; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Calgary Flames

                          BRIAN COMPTON

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Ottawa Senators; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Tampa Bay Lightning; 16. Calgary Flames

                          TOM GULITTI

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Los Angeles Kings; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Vancouver Canucks

                          ADAM KIMELMAN

                          1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Edmonton Oilers; 5. Toronto Maple Leafs; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Carolina Hurricanes; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. New Jersey Devils; 11. Tampa Bay Lightning; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Calgary Flames

                          MIKE G. MORREALE

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Florida Panthers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Edmonton Oilers; 8. Toronto Maple Leafs; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Tampa Bay Lightning; 13. Los Angeles Kings; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Boston Bruins; 16. New York Rangers

                          TRACEY MYERS

                          1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Minnesota Wild; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Boston Bruins; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

                          BILL PRICE

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Florida Panthers; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Colorado Avalanche; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Calgary Flames; 15. Columbus Blue Jackets; 16. Boston Bruins

                          SHAWN P. ROARKE

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Vegas Golden Knights; 6. Toronto Maple Leafs; 7. Dallas Stars; 8. Colorado Avalanche; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Columbus Blue Jackets; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Minnesota Wild; 14. Montreal Canadiens; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Tampa Bay Lightning

                          DAN ROSEN

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Winnipeg Jets; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Columbus Blue Jackets; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. New Jersey Devils; 15. Detroit Red Wings; 16. Calgary Flames

                          DAVID SATRIANO

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Carolina Hurricanes; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. New Jersey Devils; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. New York Rangers; 16. Detroit Red Wings

                          PAUL STRIZHEVSKY

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Winnipeg Jets; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Dallas Stars; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Vegas Golden Knights; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Minnesota Wild; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Ottawa Senators; 11. Florida Panthers; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Colorado Avalanche; 14. Columbus Blue Jackets; 15. Tampa Bay Lightning; 16. Calgary Flames

                          DEREK VAN DIEST

                          1. Winnipeg Jets; 2. Washington Capitals; 3. Edmonton Oilers; 4. Vegas Golden Knights; 5. Dallas Stars; 6. Carolina Hurricanes; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. New Jersey Devils; 9. Florida Panthers; 10. Minnesota Wild; 11. Colorado Avalanche; 12. Los Angeles Kings; 13. Ottawa Senators; 14. Tampa Bay Lightning; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Boston Bruins

                          MIKE ZEISBERGER

                          1. Washington Capitals; 2. Edmonton Oilers; 3. Vegas Golden Knights; 4. Winnipeg Jets; 5. Carolina Hurricanes; 6. Dallas Stars; 7. Toronto Maple Leafs; 8. Florida Panthers; 9. Los Angeles Kings; 10. Colorado Avalanche; 11. Minnesota Wild; 12. New Jersey Devils; 13. Tampa Bay Lightning; 14. Ottawa Senators; 15. Calgary Flames; 16. Detroit Red Wings