Connor McDavid, the star player of the Edmonton Oilers, has a new-found admiration for Washington Capitals' Tom Wilson. The two players, who were on opposing teams in the NHL, now find themselves on the same Olympic team, representing Canada. During Canada's first game of the Group Stage, McDavid formed a line with rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini and Wilson. He was impressed by their talent, especially Wilson's forechecking skills.
"Unreal, unreal," McDavid said. "Both of them were amazing. Willie's just a forechecking god. So hard on guys. Created so much space out there. It was fun. And Mack was really impressive. Just kept so many plays alive. He's dangerous. He's a great player."
The trio made an immediate impact, with McDavid leading the way with a powerful hit in the corner. Nearing the end of the period, they scored the first goal of the game, with Celebrini deftly deflecting a Cale Makar shot. McDavid got the secondary assist on what would end up being the game-winning goal.
McDavid's performance was exceptional, earning him a game-high 3 points, all assists, in Canada's 5-0 victory over Czechia. The Canadian head coach, Jon Cooper, paired McDavid with Wilson, believing that the power forward would give the playmaking centerman more time and space to operate.
"Everybody needs an F1 right? That big boy there is one of the best I've seen," Cooper said of Wilson. He added, "Some guys are forecheckers. Some guys aren't. Some guys are puck-possession guys. And when you find that right mix..."
While Cooper joked that Wilson could provide protection in case a fight breaks out, it's worth noting that fighting is not allowed in Olympic play. However, the combination of McDavid and Wilson on the ice has proven to be a powerful one, and their partnership is sure to be a topic of discussion as the Olympics progress.
