The 4 Nations Face-Off features most of the best players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland, and gives stars like Connor McDavid, San Ramon-born Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mikko Rantanen a chance to play in this type of event for the first time in their professional careers.

In their last game before the league pauses its schedule for two weeks to hold the 4 Nations Face-Off, the Sharks gave up three goals in a lopsided first period and never fully recovered in an 8-3 loss to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars on Saturday at SAP Center.

Jason Robertson, Mason Marchment, Mavrik Borque, Wyatt Johnston, Thomas Harley and Jamie Benn also scored to help the Stars rebound from a 5-4 shootout loss in Los Angeles the night before. Casey DeSmith made 23 saves.

Former San Jose Sharks forward Mikael Granlund was well-loved in the Bay Area, but the forward isn't thinking about where he might play next season just yet.