Brad Marchand's Comments Spark Fear Over Auston Matthews' Participation in the 4 Nations Tournament

Introduced to replace the World Cup of Hockey, the 4 Nations Face-Off will take some of the best NHL talent split between Canada, USA, Sweden, and Finland in order to see who reigns supreme internationally.

It's expected to be an exciting tournament and a way for fans to watch their favorite players come together for a friendly albeit intense tournament.

So with that being said, a lot of questions surround Auston Matthews' status in the tournament. Selected to be part of Team USA, injuries have made his season a big question mark. Recent comments from Team Canada member Brad Marchand don't offer him any consolation either:

Given Marchand and Canada are going to be ruthless in their attempt to prove dominance, perhaps the Leafs captain should stay away.

It's understandable why Matthews would want to play and represent his country, it's an opportunity not many players get the chance to do. However it wouldn't be the smartest gamble going forward.

Already with two stints on the shelf due to injury this season, there is a very good chance that not only Marchand but others will be targeting Matthews both to help their chances in the tournament, as well as the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

If he plays he will no doubt add a huge boost to Team USA's chances in the tournament but those can be just as quickly dashed if he gets hurt. Not only is it a bad look for Matthews but for the Maple Leafs as well.

They can't force him not to play but if they plead ignorance to the fact they caused Matthews to get hurt even indirectly it's a bad look. It shows that Matthews has the final say, which can end up being a big detriment to the team.

This season Matthews has only 11 goals and 12 assists, not showcasing the form fans and his teammates expect and many hope that he's finally over whatever has been ailing him for months.