Connor McDavid has waited a long time.
The superstar centre set to headline Canada香蕉视频直播檚 roster at the 4 Nations Face-Off was a vocal proponent of getting NHL players back on the international stage and under the brightest lights.
Playing against many of the game香蕉视频直播檚 best with the red Maple Leaf on his sweater at the highest level is something the Edmonton Oilers captain dreamt about long before entering the league.
That tournament now just over the horizon, McDavid has another item on his bucket list set to be checked off next month 香蕉视频直播� suiting up alongside Sidney Crosby.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e gone to a couple of camps with him,香蕉视频直播� the 27-year-old said of his childhood idol. 香蕉视频直播淭his will be just that much better.香蕉视频直播�
Crosby continues to beat back Father Time at age 37 with 15 goals and 38 assists for 53 points in 52 games this season for his Pittsburgh Penguins.
The calendar keeps flipping. The three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist largely remains the same.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unbelievable,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said during a recent interview while filming a commercial shoot for Rogers, a 4 Nations Face-Off sponsor. 香蕉视频直播淓verything that he香蕉视频直播檚 done for the game, everything that he香蕉视频直播檚 accomplished, and the fact that he香蕉视频直播檚 still playing hockey and playing at such a high level, it香蕉视频直播檚 incredible.香蕉视频直播�
The 4 Nations showcase 香蕉视频直播� the closest hockey has come to a best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup 香蕉视频直播� is set to run from Feb. 12 to 20. The United States, Sweden and Finland make up the rest of the field.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 getting harder and harder to not think about it,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said.
The No. 1 pick at the 2015 draft missed an opportunity to play for Canada at the 2018 Olympics when the NHL skipped the event for business reasons after going to five straight between 1998 and 2014. The COVID-19 pandemic scuttled 2022 plans at the Beijing Games.
The league and NHL Players香蕉视频直播� Association signalled an intent last February to participate in both 2026 and 2030 Olympics. The NHL and NHLPA are also aiming for a World Cup return in 2028 with an eye toward having a marquee international tournament every two years moving forward.
香蕉视频直播淭his isn香蕉视频直播檛 exactly the Olympics or a World Cup,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said of the 4 Nations. 香蕉视频直播�(But) it香蕉视频直播檚 a good teaser.香蕉视频直播�
The Newmarket, Ont., product competed at the 2016 World Cup, but instead of donning Canada香蕉视频直播檚 red and white threads, he suited up for Team North America 香蕉视频直播� a collection of players age 23 and under.
And while he would have preferred to play for his country, the memories remain vivid.
香蕉视频直播淪ome of the best practices I香蕉视频直播檝e been part of,香蕉视频直播� said McDavid, who has 21 goals and 45 assists for 66 points across 44 games in 2024-25. 香蕉视频直播淐anada will be no different. Some of the best players in the world on that team and everyone香蕉视频直播檚 highly competitive.
香蕉视频直播淧ushing each other to get better and make sure we香蕉视频直播檙e ready to roll.香蕉视频直播�
Canada opens Feb. 12 against Finland at the Bell Centre in Montreal before a mouth-watering matchup Feb. 15 香蕉视频直播� a Saturday night 香蕉视频直播� against the U.S. The Canadians then face the Swedes in Boston on Feb. 17 at TD Garden. The final between the two teams with the best records after the round-robin schedule goes Feb. 20.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been forever,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said of the wait for anything resembling best-on-best. 香蕉视频直播淔or guys my age, I think about Auston (Matthews) or (Jack) Eichel or (Nathan) MacKinnon 香蕉视频直播� guys that were on (Team North America) that haven香蕉视频直播檛 really had an opportunity to play in something like this 香蕉视频直播� ever.香蕉视频直播�
The overarching hope is the 4 Nations, which will be played without Russia because of the ongoing war in Ukraine, serves as an appetizer before NHL reappears on sports香蕉视频直播� biggest stage in just over 12 months at the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
香蕉视频直播淓verybody香蕉视频直播檚 got a vested interest to grow this game,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut as players, it香蕉视频直播檚 just an exciting opportunity to really challenge yourself.香蕉视频直播�
The three-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP said much like fans, he had a keen eye on the process as Canada rounded out its roster in December after initially announcing McDavid, Crosby, MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Brayden Point and Cale Makar in June.
香蕉视频直播淗ockey players are still hockey fans,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 feel like Canada could have put together a Canada 香蕉视频直播楤香蕉视频直播� team and a Canada 香蕉视频直播楥香蕉视频直播� team that would have represented the country well at this tournament.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 so many great players 香蕉视频直播� I wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 want the job to put it together.香蕉视频直播�
The next generation of stars 香蕉视频直播� similar to how a young McDavid was mesmerized as Crosby led Canada to gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics 香蕉视频直播� will be paying close attention.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 always another guy next,香蕉视频直播� McDavid said. 香蕉视频直播淐anada is just an endless supply of hockey talent. There香蕉视频直播檚 so many kids that are playing and loving the game across the country. They香蕉视频直播檒l be watching.
香蕉视频直播淚 just hope we do everybody proud.香蕉视频直播�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2025.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
