Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner was named to Canada’s roster for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament on Wednesday.

Marner was a Selke finalist during the 2022-23 season and has been one of the NHL’s premier two-way forwards during the 2024-25 campaign, recording nine goals and 33 points in 24 games. He has carried Toronto’s offense during a November stretch without Auston Matthews, and is the primary reason why the Maple Leafs are atop the Atlantic Division prior to Wednesday’s games. Marner has averaged a team-best 21:34 in ice time this season, in large part due to his outstanding work on the penalty kill and power play units.

Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper raved about Marner’s confidence and hockey intelligence prior to the Maple Leafs’ game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Cooper previously coached Marner at the 2017 IIHF World Championships, where Toronto’s star winger recorded four goals and 12 points en route to the silver medal.

“Probably confidence and swag,” Cooper said. “He’s always had it, but you see it how he plays. You know I’m a massive Mitch Marner fan, being able to coach him in 2017. And he’s always had it in him, but I think he’s let it out a little bit more — and in a good way. You know, he’s not showing off. He does everything with a purpose. And man, it’s amazing how he thinks the game. It’s elite.”

Marner was about to begin his rookie year with the Maple Leafs when the 2016 World Cup of Hockey was hosted in Toronto, and this is the first chance he’ll get to play best-on-best international hockey. While Marner has often downplayed individual accolades, there’s surely a sense that this accomplishment may standalone thus far.

Auston Matthews and William Nylander were previously named to Team USA and Team Sweden, respectively, as part of each team’s initial six selections.