Marchand Eager for Another Shot at Playing with McDavid in 4 Nations Face-Off

EDMONTON Brad Marchand is excited about the upcoming 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and is looking forward to the chance to play alongside Connor McDavid again, hoping he can keep up with the Edmonton Oilers captain this time around.

Reflecting on their previous time together at the 2016 IIHF World Championship, Marchand, now the captain of the Boston Bruins, joked, "I tried it in 2016, and half the time I found myself changing because I couldnt keep up with him. I was like, Get someone out there who can actually skate with him! Hes an incredible talent, not just one of the best right now, but one of the best to ever play the game. "

Marchand and McDavid were teammates during Canadas gold medal run at the 2016 World Championship in Russia, where McDavid was just 19 years old in his rookie season with the Oilers, and Marchand, at 28, had already spent seven years with the Bruins.

The two players were part of the first six athletes selected for Team Canada for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, which will include teams from the U. S https://www.iihfworldchampionship.com/collections/team-canada-cale-makar-jersey. , Sweden, and Finland. The tournament, scheduled for February 12-20, will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston. Theres a good chance that Marchand and McDavid will be lining up together again.

I played with him a little in 2016, and hes just a fun guy to play with, McDavid said. He works hard, brings a lot of emotion, and does a great job of getting pucks back and winning those little battles that often go unnoticed but are crucial to games. Hed be a great winger to have.

Marchand, now 36, continues to perform at a high level, with 27 points 14 goals, 13 assists) in 35 games this season. McDavid, 27, has 48 points 15 goals, 33 assists) in 30 games.

Itll be a treat to be on his team and to watch his habits, Marchand said. Its one of those things I really enjoy, seeing how the best players prepare off the ice, their practice habits. You hear a lot about them in the offseason, and there's a reason theyre the bestit doesnt happen by accident. Same with Crosby and MacKinnon. It's the work they put in, and you hear the same thing about Connor.

The full rosters for the 4 Nations Face-Off were announced on December 4, and Canadas coach, Jon Cooper, has a wealth of options to consider for his line combinations. Cooper looks forward to discussing these strategies with McDavid when the Tampa Bay Lightning meet the Oilers in Edmonton on December 10, a game that saw the Lightning lose 2-1.

"Ive spoken with him quite a bit throughout this process, said Cooper. What an impressive young man. Im not talking about his hockey ability, either. Hes insightful and honest, and I really appreciate that. Im looking forward to coaching him in February.

Cooper, who will coach some of the NHLs most talented players, including McDavid, Marchand, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and others, has a simple approach to coaching such high-caliber talent.

"Dont screw it up," Cooper said with a smile. When youre in a tournament like this with only three games, and at best two practices beforehand, its about putting players in positions to succeed. Its trial and error in the first periods, but these guys are the best of the best https://www.iihfworldchampionship.com/collections/team-usa-jeremy-swayman-jersey. Well simplify the game plan, dont let them overthink, and let them just go out and play.

Marchand is aware of his role if he ends up playing alongside McDavid. The Oilers captain is known for his offensive brilliance, as seen when he became the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points earlier this season.

Guys like McDavid want the puck on their stick, Marchand said. They just need you to get open and give them space. If you do that, theyll find you, and things will happen. You just need to find that open area on the ice.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is the first best-on-best tournament featuring NHL players since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The tournament is also seen as a precursor to the 2026 Winter Olympics, where NHL players will be allowed to participate.

Marchand is thrilled about the opportunity. Its exciting. Its a privilege to be a part of, and its what everyone wants to seebest teams going at it. Its unfortunate that we missed out on the Olympics in recent years, but this is a great preview. Fans are excited, and itll be an awesome tournament. Every team is deep, and there are no clear favorites. Its going to be incredible.












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