The Four Nations Faceoff is underway in Montreal. The New Jersey Devils are well represented, with three competing for their respective nations: Jack Hughes for Team USA, Jesper Bratt for Team Sweden, and Erik Haula for Team Finland. Those teammates and, importantly, friends will be put aside once the put drops, as National Pride is on the line.
“I said to Jack and Haula we are not friends anymore,” Bratt said post-game following the Devils win. “I’ll see you guys in a week when we’re friends again.”
Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes Have High Praise for Each Other
Once the New Jersey Devils finished up their game on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens, all the players turned their attention to the Four Nations Face-off. This trio of teammates will square off right away when the USA takes on Finland on Thursday night. Erik Haula will have the uneasy task of trying to stop Jack Hughes and that high-powered USA lineup.
“We were taking our gear off in Montreal, and I was like, ‘Jack, this is kinda weird, we’re gonna line up against each other in three days or so!’” Erik Haula told the Devils media in attendance. “We had a chuckle about it. It’s a cool opportunity. We compete every day in practice; it’s just fun.”
However, Haula is not afraid to speak his mind when it comes to National pride. While the USA and Finland have built up a good rivalry over the years, especially recently, the bigger rivalry is between Sweden and Finland. Back when the rosters were announced on December 4th, Haula joked that he wouldn’t be afraid to run one of his teammates through the boards.
“I might have to run him through the boards or something,” Haula joked on the NHL Network about seeing Bratt on the other side of the ice.
New Jersey Devils Teammates Will Play Against Each at Four Nations Faceoff
Haula later added he would love nothing more to score on Jacob Markstrom; however, due to a lower-body injury, Markstrom could not play in the tournament. You could tell how disappointing it was for Bratt to say Markstrom couldn’t wear the Three Crown Jersey.
“Obviously, we all feel very bad for Marky. , especially for me, and the Devils was such a big part of our whole season and being without him is really tough,” Bratt said. “Me and him were talking about this tournament for such a long time to get to play for Sweden together. We all really feel for him. We know he wants to be here.”
Jesper Bratt says Markstrom is having a good rehab and will be ready to go #njdevils @DevilsNationX @FullPressNHL @NHLrumorsX pic.twitter.com/FRD83NIgob
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) February 11, 2025
Bratt offered this little nugget about his rehab and when he will be ready to resume playing.
“He’s having a good rehab and will be ready to go,” Bratt added.
Though Sweden does not play Team USA until the final game of the round-robin tournament, Bratt knows how hard it will be to defend a player like Jack Hughes.
“You have to limit his time and space. That is what it is all about,” Bratt said. “He is such a skilled player. Good players find their time and space. You have to be tight on a guy like that, and you can’t give him any free areas on the ice. It is going to be exciting to be put against him, and he is so used to playing on the other side.”
Jack Hughes Makes Team USA Four Nations Faceoff Roster
Jack Hughes will be missing not only his brother Quinn at the tournament but playing alongside Bratt. Those two have instant chemistry on the Devils. But Hughes has new linemates. One is Auston Matthews, who has given him high praise. So that duo will be tough to stop when the puck drops.
These New Jersey Devils teammates will face off beginning Thursday night when Hughes and Team USA take on Haula and Finland. Then Bratt and Sweden take on Haula and Finland on Saturday. Then we see Hughes and Bratt go at it to close things out on Monday. So, friendships will be put on hold for a little bit.
There will be fireworks because the Devils are not the only team having good friends become better enemies at the Four Nations Faceoff.
