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Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

3 Oilers Takeaways From the 4 Nations Face-Off

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Rupert McDonald | Last updated Feb 22, 2025 1:15 PM ET

It isn’t often Canadians join forces to root for the same team, as was evidenced by many north of the border rooting against the Edmonton Oilers during last year’s Stanley Cup Final versus the Florida Panthers. Over the past 10 days, however, all hockey fans in Canada were cheering for the same outcome.

Canada was able to win the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday night, defeating USA in a thriller that, as many predicted, went into overtime. It wound up being none other than Connor McDavid who sealed the deal, much to the excitement of Oilers fans, who felt a sense of pride having watched the 28-year-old so closely over the last decade.

While this tournament was a success on all fronts, there are also several things to take away from it as an Oilers fan. Here is a look at the four biggest takeaways from the 4 Nations Face-Off relating to the Oilers, in regards to the remainder of this season and the years that lie ahead.

McDavid Wins the Big One

Whether fair or not, McDavid has had questions surrounding him on if he is capable of winning the big game. While many would suggest he’s the reason the Oilers have had so much success, the unfortunate matter is that players of his stature often get compared on how often they have won.

The same narrative followed Alex Ovechkin around for years, before he and the Washington Capitals were finally able to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2018. McDavid is that player now, as he is by far and away the most talented player in the league who has yet to win it all.

Though McDavid would much rather win the Stanley Cup, being able to hoist the 4 Nations trophy (as well as scoring the overtime winner to seal the deal) proves to everybody that he is indeed capable of stepping up when the lights are at their brightest. This added confidence could allow the Oilers to win it all later this year.

Ekholm Plays Elite Shut Down Role

It didn’t come as a surprise to see Mattias Ekholm crack Sweden’s roster, though it was unclear how big of a role he would play. As it turns out, the 34-year-old is indeed one of the best defencemen in the NHL, as he was not only used plenty and often on a stacked Sweden blue line, but he was going head-to-head against the likes of McDavid, and did a fine job shutting those kinds of players down.

Though it was originally believed that Ekholm was healthy scratched for Sweden’s final game versus the U.S., it’s being speculated that he was dealing with an illness all tournament. The game wound up meaning nothing for Sweden, which explains the decision to sit him. He was forced to go out and play anyway, however, as a few of his teammates were unable to go due to their own illnesses.

Hyman Deserving of a Spot

While McDavid had some clutch moments at the 4 Nations Face-Off, Oilers fans would tell you that he didn’t seem to be at his best for the entirety of the tournament. At times, he struggled to mesh with linemates, something head coach Jon Cooper seemed to notice, as he had the Oilers captain playing with a variety of wingers.

It goes to show just how difficult a player like McDavid is to play with. He not only has speed like few we’ve ever seen, but he thinks the game at a much higher level than his competitors. Finding chemistry with him in these short tournaments isn’t easy, and could result in Zach Hyman getting the call to play in the 2026 Olympics.

Zach Hyman of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates his first-period goal against the Los Angeles Kings in Game One of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

There were several plays throughout the tournament where linemate Mitch Marner didn’t seem to know where to go on the ice when McDavid had the puck. This is no fault of Marner’s, as he simply doesn’t have that connection with the 28-year-old. Hyman does, however, and you can’t help but think of how successful the duo could have been had they gotten the opportunity to play in the tournament together.

4 Nations Will Benefit Oilers

As mentioned, being able to score the overtime winner in the final game is huge for McDavid’s confidence, not only to close out the 2024-25 season, but as he and the Oilers prepare to head into the playoffs. The same can be said for Ekholm, who was fantastic in the tournament.

As for the other Oilers, even snubs such as Hyman, Evan Bouchard, and Stuart Skinner, they were instead able to get a much-needed rest as they prepare for what could be another lengthy playoff run in Edmonton.