When the Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Edmonton Oilers, one of the biggest matchups is the battle between generational talents. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby

McDavid has been clamoring to compete for Canada in a best-on-best international event for years — and has been vocal about those desires. Since turning pro after being drafted first in the 2015 draft, McDavid took part in the 2016 World Cup as a member of the under-23 North American team and in two world championships in 2016 and 2018.

Connor McDavid scored two goals against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Oilers’ 3-2 overtime loss last time out.

Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet is on the coaching staff for Team Canada at the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off, and he agrees with Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid that Sidney Crosby should be the captain.

Connor McDavid says there’s no debate. The Oilers star wants Sidney Crosby to captain Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.

Connor McDavid does not believe there is any debate as to who should be Canada’s captain for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. “It should be Sid. It should be Sid for sure, that’s not even a question,” the Edmonton Oilers center said of Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby on Thursday.

While there hasn’t been much fanfare for it, the NHL’s inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off begins in just under 4 months time. Today, the NHL revealed uniforms of the four competing teams: Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland.

The 2024-25 NHL season will pause in February for a new tournament called the 4 Nations Face-Off. The US, Canada, Finland, and Sweden will put together their rosters for a round-robin tournament. Preliminary selections have already taken place with some obvious selections being finalized.

The NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off is just four months away and will be the first platform for international best-on-best hockey since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Maybe some people thought the 4 Nations Face-Off in February would be the ideal time for some torch-passing on Team Canada. Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is not in that camp.