Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner are finally going to be teammates.
The duo will be representing Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in just over a week, and McDavid couldn&#8217;t be more excited to be teaming up with Marner. The Oilers&#8217; captain spoke to reporters on Friday, and opened up about how excited he is to play with Marner, someone he loves to watch slow the game down. &#8220;Mitch is a guy I&#8217;ve never played with, at any level, I&#8217;m excited about that,&#8221; <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/mcdavid-on-playing-with-crosby-marner-at-4-nations-relationship-with-matthews~3072399">McDavid told TSN&#8217;s Mark Masters</a>.
&#8220;Such a smart player, he&#8217;s having a terrific year. Such a great playmaker, reminds me of Leo (Draisaitl) a little bit, when he can slow the game down when he has to. Obviously, I like playing with guys like that.&#8221;
There&#8217;s a very good chance head coach Jon Cooper plays McDavid and Marner on the team&#8217;s top line, with the potential for Sam Bennett to play the left wing. McDavid and Bennett have known each other since they were kids, playing minor hockey together for several seasons. Adding the smarts of Marner to some pre-established chemistry, could go a long way for Canada. The team has already started a group chat and it seems the conversation is helping break the ice. &#8220;I would say the goal is so guys are a little bit familiar with each other. It&#8217;s only two, three days together before you play, you want to have some familiarity,&#8221; continued McDavid.
The Oilers captain made it very clear that Marner wasn&#8217;t the only one he was excited to play against, reiterating he&#8217;ll be watching Sidney Crosby, and trying to do whatever he can to pick his brain, and learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins&#8217; legend for a couple of weeks.
&#8220;I&#8217;m excited to play with Sid. Guys are learning from each other all over, from practice, from preparation, to habits&#8230;Certainly Sid will be a guy that I&#8217;ll be watching, and trying to learn whatever I can from.&#8221;
McDavid, Marner, Crosby and company will wear Canada&#8217;s maple leaf starting Feb.12, when Team Canada and Team Sweden kick off the tournament.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid and Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner are finally going to be teammates.

The duo will be representing Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in just over a week, and McDavid couldn't be more excited to be teaming up with Marner. The Oilers' captain spoke to reporters on Friday, and opened up about how excited he is to play with Marner, someone he loves to watch slow the game down. "Mitch is a guy I've never played with, at any level, I'm excited about that," <a href="https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/mcdavid-on-playing-with-crosby-marner-at-4-nations-relationship-with-matthews~3072399">McDavid told TSN's Mark Masters</a>.

"Such a smart player, he's having a terrific year. Such a great playmaker, reminds me of Leo (Draisaitl) a little bit, when he can slow the game down when he has to. Obviously, I like playing with guys like that."

There's a very good chance head coach Jon Cooper plays McDavid and Marner on the team's top line, with the potential for Sam Bennett to play the left wing. McDavid and Bennett have known each other since they were kids, playing minor hockey together for several seasons. Adding the smarts of Marner to some pre-established chemistry, could go a long way for Canada. The team has already started a group chat and it seems the conversation is helping break the ice. "I would say the goal is so guys are a little bit familiar with each other. It's only two, three days together before you play, you want to have some familiarity," continued McDavid.

The Oilers captain made it very clear that Marner wasn't the only one he was excited to play against, reiterating he'll be watching Sidney Crosby, and trying to do whatever he can to pick his brain, and learn from the Pittsburgh Penguins' legend for a couple of weeks.

"I'm excited to play with Sid. Guys are learning from each other all over, from practice, from preparation, to habits...Certainly Sid will be a guy that I'll be watching, and trying to learn whatever I can from."

McDavid, Marner, Crosby and company will wear Canada's maple leaf starting Feb.12, when Team Canada and Team Sweden kick off the tournament.

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