In many ways, the poster children for the return of best-on-best hockey have long been Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. The No. 1 picks from the 2015 and 2016 NHL drafts, respectively, McDavid and Matthews were teased with a version of it as teammates on the made-up Team North America youth squad at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

In the midst of cross-warnings, Team Canada star Connor McDavid sent a strong statement ahead of the Four Nations Face-Off final against Matthew Tkachuk's Team USA.

Although it's still not perfect, Connor McDavid and pretty much everyone else in hockey is thrilled with the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off. It'll end with an incredible game between Team Canada and USA on Thursday night, for all the bragging rights.

Connor McDavid played in the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, but it was with the 23-and-under Team North America, not Canada.

Just hours before the 4 Nations Face-Off final between Team Canada and Team USA, Canada forward Connor McDavid spoke with reporters about Thursday’s championship game, the level of competition he’s seen and finally having the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world on the international stage.

MONTREAL (AP) — Charlie McAvoy lined up Connor McDavid and delivered a textbook hit that sent the best hockey player in the world careening into the glass and down to the ice.