The 4 Nations Face-Off is supposed to be an exhilarating new addition to the NHL calendar. It’s an international tournament featuring the best talent the NHL has to offer, in lieu of the traditional All-Star Game. Pretty significant since NHL stars haven’t competed internationally since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Fans have been anticipating a high-stakes battle between Canada, the U.S., Sweden, and Finland, with excitement all but guaranteed. What could go wrong? As it turns out, quite a bit could go wrong. As tournament details have begun to emerge, frustration has quickly replaced some of that anticipation.

Instead of keeping the focus on must-watch hockey, the tournament has been plagued by bizarre scheduling choices, questionable format decisions, and frustrating network arrangements. With NHL action paused for two weeks, fans expected a smoothly run event, but many now believe the league has mishandled their marquee competition.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding the 4 Nations Face-Off is the questionable scheduling choices. With games scheduled during odd hours on weekdays, fans are left wondering why the NHL failed to create a more accessible calendar. Canada, for instance, faces Finland on a Monday afternoon in TD Garden—a time that limits both viewership and engagement.

Additionally, the three-day gap between the last round-robin game and the final has left many baffled. Rather than keeping the momentum going, the extended break disrupts the flow of the tournament, making it feel unnecessarily drawn out. This scheduling flaw has led to speculation that the league cared more about logistics than ensuring an exciting and seamless tournament experience.

Furthermore, the decision to pause the NHL season for two weeks has been met with criticism. With only a select group of players participating, many believe that halting the regular season schedule for this event disrupts team chemistry and momentum. Given that the tournament’s stakes remain low, many are questioning if this lengthy break was truly necessary.

Fan reactions explode over scheduling, format, and broadcasting issues

The backlash has only grown louder as fans voice their frustrations over these issues. One particularly baffled fan questioned the scheduling with, “Monday 1PM? Really??????????????” While another fan blasted the planning. “Two weeks off for most players… in a tournament that means absolutely nothing… right in the middle of a season… is absolutely the stupidest thing.” The widespread discontent over game times reflects a broader issue—the NHL’s inability to properly schedule their big events to maximize engagement.

The tournament format itself has also been a major point of contention. “Why is there 3 days between the final round robin and the finals? That is atrocious scheduling,” one fan wrote, pointing out how unnecessary gaps slow down excitement. Others felt the tournament’s round robin format was lacking, with one fan questioning, “Why didn’t you do the same format as the Memorial Cup?”

Speculation about league bias has also emerged, with some pointing fingers at NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “USA gets Finland first game lol. I wonder who Bettman wants in the Finals?” one sarcastic comment read, suggesting that the league may have structured match-ups to favor certain teams.

Broadcasting has been another source of frustration. With games spread across ABC, ESPN and TNT in the U.S., and Sportsnet in Canada, keeping track of where to watch what has become a headache for fans. Additionally, fans have criticized the championship game’s exclusive ESPN coverage for limiting accessibility, alienating certain audiences who would have otherwise tuned in. Especially because this is a brand new tournament and the NHL should be trying to maximize viewership, not limit it.

With the 4 Nations Face-Off underway, the spotlight should be on the action and elite talent on the ice. Instead, the narrative has been hijacked by scheduling blunders, awkward gaps in competition, and broadcasting confusion. What should only be a thrilling international showcase has quickly turned into a case study in how poor planning can overshadow even the most talented rosters.

As frustration mounts, one thing is clear—the 4 Nations Face-Off should be unequivocally a win for the NHL, but instead, it’s raising some baffling questions along with excitement.