Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid participated in Team Canada’s first practice ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off and was put on a line with Mitch Marner and Sam Reinhart.
It should come as no surprise that McDavid would be on the top line, given that he is Canada’s best player going into the tournament. The real question going into the tournament was who he would be paired with, and it appears head coach Jon Cooper wants to load up the top line with one of the best goal-scorers and one of the best playmakers in the league.
Reinhart was one of the players McDavid faced in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. He scored the clinching goal in Game 7 and is coming off a strong season, during which he was in the running for the Rocket Richard Trophy. He is currently leading the Florida Panthers in scoring with 62 points (31 goals and 31 assists) in 57 games and is once again in striking range of the goal-scoring title.
Marner is someone McDavid likely crossed paths with numerous times throughout their childhoods and into adolescence since both hailed from the GTA. The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his career – during a contract year no less- with a team-leading 71 points (16 goals and 55 assists) in 54 games while tied with McDavid for fifth in the NHL scoring race.
The top line should give the rest of the completion fits with their elite skill and complimentary playstyles. There is a good chance that Reinhart will have the bulk of the goals since he is the best shooter on the team but don’t be surprised if McDavid pots a few of his own. Combine that with Marner’s solid defensive game and these three will get the bulk of the ice time among the rest of Canada’s forwards.
Additionally, McDavid got reps on the top power-play unit where he will link up with Reinhart, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Cale Makar. Both units certainly have the offensive firepower to get clicking on the man advantage, but the first unit is a living cheat code with so much skill and being quarterbacked by arguably the best defenceman participating at the 4 Nations.
When Canada goes on the power play in a game, it will mark the first time that McDavid and Crosby get the share the ice together as teammates. The elder statesmen expressed his enthusiasm for being teamed up with the best player in the NHL for what would be a treat for the fans and the players to watch.
“I’m really excited. Playing against him all these years, it’ll be much better playing with him,” Crosby said on Amazon Prime’s Coast to Coast on October 24. “Just to see the best players in the world going head to head and being able to play with some of them, that’s what it’s all about. So, just really excited as players and I think for fans too for what they’re going to see.”
Given the scare that Crosby gave Canadian fans when injury concerns last week threatened to jeopardize his availability at the tournament, suffice it to say that McDavid is pumped too that the Pittsburgh Penguins captain appears to be set to go.
Canada kicks off the 4 Nations on Wednesday when they take on Sweden in Montreal with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. MST.
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