by EDMONTON— Connor McDavid doesn’t think there’s any debate about who should be Canada’s captain for the 2025 four-nation clash.
“It should be Sid. It should definitely be Sid, it’s not even a question,” the Edmonton Oilers center said Thursday of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. “It’s exactly as it should be. His name is Sidney Crosby and he’s been there so many times and he’s the guy. It’s not that I’ve given it much thought, it’s just second nature.”
The 4 Nations Face-Off, a tournament featuring teams of NHL players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland, will take place February 12-20 at the Bell Center in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston. Tickets for Tuesday’s Montreal games and Wednesday’s Boston games go on sale at Ticketmaster.com.
“I appreciate it,” Crosby said Thursday. “I think he allows me to do that because he’s a little more experienced. He’s obviously a great leader and has done so much for the team here and also for Canada. I think anytime you wear a letter, be it a “C” or an “A,” and are part of Team Canada, it’s definitely a great honor. But I appreciate that.”
More than three months before that event, McDavid and Crosby will face each other for the 14th time when the Penguins (3-4-1) visit the Oilers (2-4-1) at Rogers Place on Friday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS). , SN1, SN-PIT).
“He hasn’t changed at all. He’s had a great year every year, it’s so impressive to see,” McDavid said of Crosby. “He’s someone I admired as a child and still admire today.”
Crosby, selected No. 1 overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Draft, is in his 20th NHL season. The 37-year-old center has seven points (one goal, six assists) in eight games.
McDavid, selected No. 1 overall by Edmonton in the 2015 NHL Draft, is in his 10th NHL season. The 27-year-old has collected eight points (three goals, five assists) in seven games.
“I hope to make it to 37,” McDavid said. “And I hope I can still play at the level he’s playing at.”
McDavid has 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) with a plus-15 rating in 13 games against Crosby, and the Oilers are 7-3-3. Crosby has seven points (three goals, four assists) with a minus-12 rating, and the Penguins are 6-6-1.
Crosby and the Penguins have won the first six games against McDavid and the Oilers, and Edmonton has won the last seven.
The Penguins practiced in Edmonton on Thursday and Crosby was asked about the Oilers’ success against them.
“Just a lot of speed, very opportunistic,” Crosby said. “I think Connor and Leon [Draisaitl]it’s pretty hard for anyone to play against them, especially because of their speed. One small mistake, if you’re on the wrong side of the puck it ends up in the net, they’re just so dangerous. It tests your discipline, your structure and simply your level of competition. You have to find ways to hold onto the pucks and not give them those chances.”
This is the first of two games against each other this season. The Oilers visit the Penguins on January 9th. It is not certain how many more games they will play against each other.
Crosby signed a two-year, $17.4 million ($8.7 million average annual value) contract with the Penguins on September 16, starting next season.
“It doesn’t look like he’s showing any signs of slowing down,” McDavid said. “But it’s always special to compete against Sid, [Evgeni] Malkin and [Kris] Letang and all the guys there who were part of great teams.”
McDavid said playing Crosby this time will be no different, even though the two are expected to be teammates in the 4-nation clash.
“We still want to win, he still wants to win tomorrow and the competitive fire will be there,” McDavid said. “But we’ll be teammates in February and that will be a great time too.”
McDavid and Crosby, along with center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, forward Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning and forward Brad Marchand of the Tampa Bay Lightning, were among the first six players named to Canada’s squad for the 4 Nations Boston Bruins were called face-off.
Crosby said he was looking forward to playing with McDavid instead of having to play against him.
“It will be a lot better, that’s for sure,” Crosby said. “I skated with him a bit and just saw him up close and saw how fast he does everything, how good his hands are, everything is at high speed and it’s things he makes look pretty easy, but that’s really not the case. He’s getting better and better, which is even more impressive.”
The tournament will mark the first time since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey that NHL players will play in a best-versus-best format. McDavid played for Team North America, which consists of players aged 23 and under, and Crosby played for Canada, which consists of players aged 23 and under, won the event.
“I’m really looking forward to playing (Four Nations) with Sid, but also with so many other guys: Nate, Makar, the list of great Canadian players goes on and on,” McDavid said. “I am really looking forward to this event. All four teams will be really good teams, they will be hard fought and it is everyone’s business to win the tournament.”
The NHL will take part in the 2026 Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. McDavid has never represented Canada at the Olympics. Crosby achieved this in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014, winning a gold medal both times.
“I find [Four Nations] It’s kind of a prequel to what’s to come,” McDavid said. “So to speak, we are returning to the international game and the Olympics will follow next year. I think it is a great opportunity for the four countries to put on a great show, continue to grow football and show what can be expected in the international game in the coming years.”
