Connor McDavid won’t be the only Edmonton Oilers player wearing a captain’s letter on his sweater in the Four Nations Face-Off next month. Defenceman Mattias Ekholm has also been named an alternate captain when he suits up with Team Sweden in Montreal and Boston,

Team Canada announced their leadership group for the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off and Edmonton Oilers’ superstar Connor McDavid was not given the biggest honor.

EDMONTON, AB – Oilers forward Connor McDavid and defenceman Mattias Ekholm will don the 'A' for their respective countries at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal and Boston this February after being named alternate captains for Canada and Sweden.

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar will serve as Canada’s alternate captains at the 4 Nations.

But before Connor McDavid arrived on the ice, his idol - Sidney Crosby - was the face of the NHL for over a decade. Crosby dominated similarly to McDavid, racking up 1,027 points and three Stanley Cup Championships in his first 12 seasons.

Connor McDavid and Mattias Ekholm will both wear "A"s for their respective countries at the upcoming tournament.

Connor McDavid dreamt about representing Canada at international tournaments long before entering the NHL. Another item on his bucket list is set to be checked off next month — suiting up alongside Sidney Crosby.

Crosby is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, a two-time Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy winner as the league’s top goal-scorer, a two-time Art Ross Trophy winner as top scorer, and a two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.

Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar became the fastest active defenseman in the NHL to score 100 career goals on Saturday.

The jerseys for USA, Sweden, Finland and Canada, who will participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off, were officially released on Friday.

Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl earned No. 1 status on the strength of an outstanding first four months of the season after signing an eight-year, $14-million AAV extension that will almost certainly make him the highest-paid player in 2025-26.

Plenty of good things to report about New York Rangers in latest Daily, plus NHL news and rumors, including a possible suspension for superstar Connor McDavid.