Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid could take a backseat at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. We haven’t seen a Team Canada lineup this stacked since the one that donned the maple leaf in Nagano ’98. That club featured a lineup consisting almost exclusively of Hall of Famers.
This time around, the Canadian side looks just as fearsome as that ’98 group. McDavid leads an offensive juggernaut that may not have an equal on this planet. Perhaps a spaceship full of creatures from another planet could beat this Team Canada squad.
Kidding aside, McDavid would presumably be Team Canada’s captain. However, there’s another more senior, equally respected, and successful team member: Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.
Crosby is remembered for the overtime winner in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. That epic showdown between the United States and Canada will most likely repeat itself in February. So, given Crosby’s undeniable leadership, track record and history of big goals, he’ll likely get the nod for captain on the loaded Team Canada side.
Plus, Crosby is 37, and likely playing in his final international tournament. While he may still be on the roster in 2026, Canada should be McDavid’s team by then. In the meantime, McDavid might have no choice but to wait another year before donning the “C” on the red Canada sweater.
Connor McDavid should center Canada’s top line
Now, here’s where things get dicey. Team Canada coach Jon Cooper will have the monumental task of figuring out who McDavid's linemates will be.
Most likely, the roster selections were made based on a projected lineup. Given that McDavid is an elite playmaker, it would make sense to pair him with a pure goal scorer. That makes the Florida Panthers Sam Reinhart an excellent choice on the left wing.
On the right side, my guess would be the Toronto Maple Leafs top-line winger Mitch Marner could fit the bill. Marner is a solid defensive player, balancing out the offensive equation. Plus, Marner can keep up with McDavid, while adding another playmaking dimension.
In other words, teams that focus on shutting McDavid down would still have Marner to contend with. Moreover, Reinhart would most likely run amok as it’s doubtful any team on this planet could shut down all three.
At the end of the day, teams would have to pick their poison. Would they rather let McDavid run them into the ground? Or would they prefer to let Marner or Reinhart be their executioner?
The fact is that Canada is so deep that there’s no way any single team could stop McDavid’s line from becoming a factor throughout the tournament. Fans should expect to see McDavid get his chances, eventually running wild with the opposition doing little to stop him.
We can’t wait to see what a McDavid-led Canadian squad can do in such a short period.