Connor McDavid making the Team Canada roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament was never in question.
That the Edmonton Oilers captain was the sole representative of his team to make the squad shows how things have kind of been going for this group, fresh off an appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals.
No Zach Hyman. No Evan Bouchard. No Stuart Skinner. Each of whom helped make up the backbone of that near-miraculous run through the post-season.
This year, their reigning top goal-scorer, top points producer and top goaltender from a season ago didn’t even get a sniff at the Team Canada roster for the nine-day tournament being held in Montreal and Boston beginning Feb. 12.
Of course, that was then and this is now. And their numbers have all taken a bit of a dive. Especially Hyman, who went from scoring a career-high 54 goals last year to now being on pace for 10.
“I think anyone who’s on the cusp, or whatever the case may be, there is obviously disappointment,” said Hyman, back in the Oilers lineup after missing five games with an undisclosed injury. “At the same time, my focus has always been here with Edmonton, and controlling what I can control.”
At the time of the roster announcement, McDavid sat second in team scoring with 31 points (12 goals, 19 assists) in 22 games, one point behind Leon Draisaitl (17 goals, 15 assists), who will be watching the proceedings take place with no German representatives involved.
“It’s an exciting group to be a part of,” McDavid said. “I’m extremely proud and honoured to be a part of that group and represent my country. That being said, no Zach, no Bouch, I think it speaks to the talent there is across the country in this game.
“It’s a tough team to make and it speaks to some of the great players that are across Canada.”
McDavid and Crosby together at last
The tournament could offer Canadian hockey fans a long-awaited look at two generational talents playing next to each other, should McDavid line up alongside Sidney Crosby.
“It would be special,” said McDavid, who previously pointed to Crosby as the one who should wear the captain’s ‘C’. “Lots has been made about this already, but it’s going to be exciting to be on his team, maybe on his power play or on his line.
“But there are so many great players on that team, it’s going to be great to be out there with anybody.”
But he’s not the only on McDavid is looking forward to suiting up with at 4 Nations.
“I know Sam Bennett really well,” McDavid said. “He was my minor hockey linemate for eight years, so it’ll be fun to be on his team.”
On the flip side, McDavid will open the tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 12 (6 p.m., Sportsnet), against a couple of Oilers teammates, as both defenceman Mattias Ekholm and Viktor Arvidsson have been selected to Team Sweden.
“That will be fun. It’s not very fun going up against Ek, or Arvie for that matter, but all three games, hopefully four will be special,” McDavid said. “It’s not a long tournament, it’s a short one and you have to be ready to go right off the hop. Playing Ek and Arvie in the first game will be fun.”
Three Oilers in the tournament. One representing Canada.
“Obviously, it’s a great recognition for those guys. Some of them aren’t surprises,” said Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. “I don’t think there’s any surprise McDavid was going to be on that team.
“But there’s also some disappointed guys. I think I’ve talked to them more than the guys who made it. We feel there’s a lot of guys that just missed out under the circumstances. And a lot of them pointed out that next year’s the big year. That’s the one they want.”
Ekholm was also a shoo-in for tournament selection, having earned an astounding plus-minus ratio of 76 to lead the league in his 125 games since joining the Oilers at the trade deadline in 2023.
“I’m just excited. It’s an honor to play for your country, I haven’t done so in a while, so I’m really looking forward to it,” Ekholm said. “It’s going to be a tough task, we’ve got some good team to play against.
“It’s an exciting thing to be called for and if you look at that D-core, it’s a hard one to crack. It’s something I don’t take lightly and it’s an honor.”
Arvidsson got the nod despite earning just five points (two goals, three assists) in 16 games with the Oilers this season, before being sidelined by a suspected lower-body injury.
“I think he’s earned it. He’s a perfect player in a short tournament,” Ekholm said. “You can put him on the fourth line, you can put him on the second line, he’s going to effective wherever he is.
“He works hard and he makes it hard on the opposing team. I’m really happy for his sake and I think he’s going to do great.”
E-mail: [email protected]
On Twitter: @GerryModdejonge
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