Connor McDavid is a known figure on the ice of the NHL. Indeed, he has his rivalries on the rink, but his status is considered as one of the most respected players. And with his reputation, he has built up positive connections with his fellow ice hockey players. The Oilers’ captain will also be starring in the upcoming 4 Nations face-off that will run from February 12 to February 20.

Indeed, McDavid’s decision to wear the Canadian sweater and play for a team under Sidney Crosby’s leadership excites many. However, coming back to the NHL, tonight he will be facing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Rogers Place, and the captain of the Oilers is excited to play with a certain Maple Leafs’ right winger.

Both of the Canadian teams in the NHL will be facing each other in a heated battle. However, apart from the battle on the rink, they will expect nothing but mutual respect. And as reported by TSN’s Mark Masters on X, the #97 shared his thoughts on the Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner, stating, “A guy that I’ve never played with before at any level, so I’m excited about that… reminds me a little bit of Leo [Draisaitl], he can slow the game down when he has to, & I like playing with guys like that.”

The bond between Connor McDavid and Mitch Marner goes back to when they were just kids. Indeed, they have known each other since they were in their respective junior hockey programs and have even played together with Team Canada. But didn’t McDavid say that he never played with Marner in any form of ice hockey? Maybe the Oilers captain has forgotten about the 2016 IIHF World Championship and the 2017 IIHF World Championship, or he might be just sarcastic.

Indeed, they were part of the team, and in 2016 in Russia, with McDavid’s scoring prowess, Team Canada secured gold over Team Finland in the finals. However, in the next edition, Team Sweden was able to snatch away the victory from Team Canada, as McDavid’s squad settled for a silver medal. Coming back to the NHL, both of them were also part of the 2015 draft, where McDavid was chosen by the Oilers and Marner went to the Maple Leafs.

When talking about the Toronto player, the Oilers’ captain also pointed out the play style similarity between him and teammate Leon Draisaitl. Indeed, he appreciated the talent of both and mentioned how he liked to play with such ice hockey stars. McDavid will surely have the time of his life representing Canada on the international ice hockey stage, but what about their neighbor and rival, Team USA?

Catching controversies, unlike Connor McDavid’s Canada

When the roster of Team Canada was decided, keeping the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby as their captain, followed by the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar and the Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid as their alternate captains, the Canadians were excited for this 4 Nations Face-Off. Indeed, the international teams haven’t faced off on the rink in a long time, and the fans are eagerly anticipating the spectacle of these four countries.

However, when Team USA decided to keep Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews as their captain, the American fans had the opposite reaction. “USA getting the boot in the 1st round,” a fan wrote. Such reactions followed up on social media with the announcement of the 27-year-old as the team’s captain in this international event. But did they have any reason to do so?

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Only one issue has plagued Matthews’ NHL career. Yes, throughout his time with the Maple Leafs, he has been unable to secure a Stanley Cup. Statistically, the Maple Leafs are one such team that has been on a trophy drought for decades, as their last Cup win was back in 1967. And even though this will be a different kind of competition, the community expects nothing more than Matthews and Team USA.