Connor McDavid has waited a long time.
The superstar centre set to headline Canada91裸聊视频檚 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 game91裸聊视频檚 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 91裸聊视频� suiting up alongside Sidney Crosby.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e gone to a couple of camps with him,91裸聊视频� the 27-year-old said of his childhood idol. 91裸聊视频淭his will be just that much better.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 unbelievable,91裸聊视频� McDavid said during a recent interview while filming a commercial shoot for Rogers, a 4 Nations Face-Off sponsor. 91裸聊视频淓verything that he91裸聊视频檚 done for the game, everything that he91裸聊视频檚 accomplished, and the fact that he91裸聊视频檚 still playing hockey and playing at such a high level, it91裸聊视频檚 incredible.91裸聊视频�
The 4 Nations showcase 91裸聊视频� the closest hockey has come to a best-on-best tournament since the 2016 World Cup 91裸聊视频� is set to run from Feb. 12 to 20. The United States, Sweden and Finland make up the rest of the field.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 getting harder and harder to not think about it,91裸聊视频� 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 Players91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淭his isn91裸聊视频檛 exactly the Olympics or a World Cup,91裸聊视频� McDavid said of the 4 Nations. 91裸聊视频�(But) it91裸聊视频檚 a good teaser.91裸聊视频�
The Newmarket, Ont., product competed at the 2016 World Cup, but instead of donning Canada91裸聊视频檚 red and white threads, he suited up for Team North America 91裸聊视频� a collection of players age 23 and under.
And while he would have preferred to play for his country, the memories remain vivid.
91裸聊视频淪ome of the best practices I91裸聊视频檝e been part of,91裸聊视频� said McDavid, who has 21 goals and 45 assists for 66 points across 44 games in 2024-25. 91裸聊视频淐anada will be no different. Some of the best players in the world on that team and everyone91裸聊视频檚 highly competitive.
91裸聊视频淧ushing each other to get better and make sure we91裸聊视频檙e ready to roll.91裸聊视频�
Canada opens Feb. 12 against Finland at the Bell Centre in Montreal before a mouth-watering matchup Feb. 15 91裸聊视频� a Saturday night 91裸聊视频� 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.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 been forever,91裸聊视频� McDavid said of the wait for anything resembling best-on-best. 91裸聊视频淔or guys my age, I think about Auston (Matthews) or (Jack) Eichel or (Nathan) MacKinnon 91裸聊视频� guys that were on (Team North America) that haven91裸聊视频檛 really had an opportunity to play in something like this 91裸聊视频� ever.91裸聊视频�
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 sports91裸聊视频� biggest stage in just over 12 months at the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
91裸聊视频淓verybody91裸聊视频檚 got a vested interest to grow this game,91裸聊视频� McDavid said. 91裸聊视频淏ut as players, it91裸聊视频檚 just an exciting opportunity to really challenge yourself.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淗ockey players are still hockey fans,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 feel like Canada could have put together a Canada 91裸聊视频楤91裸聊视频� team and a Canada 91裸聊视频楥91裸聊视频� team that would have represented the country well at this tournament.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 so many great players 91裸聊视频� I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 want the job to put it together.91裸聊视频�
The next generation of stars 91裸聊视频� similar to how a young McDavid was mesmerized as Crosby led Canada to gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics 91裸聊视频� will be paying close attention.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 always another guy next,91裸聊视频� McDavid said. 91裸聊视频淐anada is just an endless supply of hockey talent. There91裸聊视频檚 so many kids that are playing and loving the game across the country. They91裸聊视频檒l be watching.
91裸聊视频淚 just hope we do everybody proud.91裸聊视频�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 28, 2025.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
