McDavid sends message to Team Canada linemates before Olympics
Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
In addition to naming Sydney Crosby as Team Canada's Captain, head coach Jon Cooper gave us a first look at his projected lines.
Nothing is guaranteed once tourney begins
The coach did preface his lineup by making the following comment:
“If anybody watched 4 Nations, the lineup we started against Sweden was not the lineup that finished against the U.S. four games later,” Cooper said. “Ultimately, you have to start somewhere. This is where we started tonight."
Seems like a good start. We've been hearing quite a lot about the first line and now know who will be flanking McDavid: Teenager Macklin Celebrini and bruiser veteran Tom Wilson.
Yet, with the kind of talent Team Canada has, he could have just pulled names from a hat and they'd still be good.
Instead, hours of preparation went into his line-combinations.
Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Marchand – MacKinnon – Suzuki
Stone – Crosby – Marner
Hagel – Horvat – Reinhart
Jarvis – Bennett
Marchand – MacKinnon – Suzuki
Stone – Crosby – Marner
Hagel – Horvat – Reinhart
Jarvis – Bennett
“It’s never like a situation where (the player is) pointing the fingers: ‘Oh, I want to play with this guy.’ Nobody does that. But what helps them? And so, some guys are forecheckers. Some guys aren’t. Some guys are puck-possession guys.”
What a first line, however. You have a little of everything and a lot of offensive firepower, contrasted by physicality and grit, experience and youthful, raw energy.
Celebrini’ is just 19, but is competing for the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP; he's fourth in the standings with 81 points in 55 games and leading his team into the post-season.
Wilson, on the other hand, is 31 and the oldest Team Canada rookie.
“I’ve played against Macklin and Connor a lot, and it’s not fun," Wilson said. "Playing with them is a lot more fun. They’re so good with the puck. For me, it’s about, go get it for them and get open, and they’ll do the rest.
“It’s not every day you play with a guy that just has the skating ability like Connor. Obviously, I’m a straight-line skater and a hard worker.”
“It’s not every day you play with a guy that just has the skating ability like Connor. Obviously, I’m a straight-line skater and a hard worker.”
Wilson, himself a leader, is building chemistry with his linemates right away.
“He’s like, ‘Hey, I’m gonna catch up to you, you know. Like, maybe you don’t need to go there. Maybe widen out there. I'll catch up with my skating,’” Wilson explained. “Creating space for him versus crowding his space or whatever."
The first game versus Czechia on February 12 can't come soon enough, with a nation eager to watch its heroes compete for Gold.
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