Marner came up short representing Canada at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, losing to William Nylander's Sweden team that won it all.
Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner and Canada will open the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off tournament on Wednesday when they take on Maple Leafs teammate William Nylander and Sweden in Montreal at 8 p.m. ET.
On Tuesday, Marner fielded questions form the media following Canada' final practice.
Q: What's the anticipation level for you? Is it butterflies? Do you start to feel pressure? Like, how does this process go after the first one?
"Maybe a little bit of all of that. I'm really excited. It should be a lot of fun to get after it. Trying to just get used to the practice and everything like that in your alignment as quick as possible. But I think when a game happens, you're just instincts hit and, you know, everything just kind of goes into the natural state."
Q: And what would be the key against Sweden and your good friend William Nylander?
"Um, well, I mean, I think for all of this, every team's got a lot of skill and can make a lot of plays. So just staying patient through games, knowing that it's not going to be an easy one in any of these games. You got to work for a lot of your stuff and when you get opportunities, try not to miss."
Q: And facing Willy? How will you feel?
"Yeah, it'll be great. It's exciting. Um, you know, obviously we've played against each other before and in these kinds of events. So, um, it's always great to play against, uh, your teammates. It's always a little bit of chirping going on. So, um, it's always going to be a fun one."
Q: Good stuff planned for him? Some good chirps?
"I don't right now. We'll see when the game goes on. I mean, um, yeah, we'll see what happens."
Q: Do you feel like you owe him one based on, I guess, the Worlds?
"Thanks, Mark (referring to TSN's Mark Masters. Thanks for bringing that up. *reporters laugh* Yeah. Um, uh, maybe. I mean, yeah, who knows? I mean, the world's a little different. Obviously, uh, that's for guys that, you know, some guys can't be there, obviously. So, um, that's why this tournament is, I think, really exciting. It's the best-on-best. So you got everyone that can be here that they want. So that's, that's what you look forward to."
Q: What about Auston (Matthews)? I think it's going to be the third time you're facing the international stage. He was always able to have a better result than you. So.
This is a good interview, you guys. Thanks.Keep 'em coming. *Reporters laugh some more* Yeah. A lot of fun. Um, yeah. I mean, another great competitor. He's, he's, um, yeah, I mean, uh, they've always had a great team. They have another great team here. So, um, it's always a challenging game. It's always a high-energy game and you're looking forward to it.
Q: If a teammate asks you 'how do I stop William tomorrow?' Like, what would you say?
"Try not to watch the puck. He likes to make people try to look silly. So he's obviously very, very skilled out there. Um, you know, easy, smooth with the puck and, you know, makes a lot of things happen where it doesn't look like something should be there.
Q: We just asked (Jon) Cooper at the end of his interview there to sort of what would be the identity of this team. His answer was gamers and winners. What do you think when you hear that answer?
Yeah. I mean, I think he's pretty accurate. I mean, we, uh, we were talking about that as well. So just about enjoying the moment, staying in the moment and, um, being ready when your name's called.
Q: Has there been any kind of communication between you Auston and William to got here or is it like radio silence? You guys are with your own teams now for the next little bit?
"Yeah, it's been pretty radio science. I mean, obviously you're just trying to get to know everyone on your own team and try to get, uh, accommodated with them. So, uh, we flew in together. We said, bye. We said, good luck. We'll see you at the end of it."
Q: What stands out to you about (Jordan) Binnington? We just found out he's going to get started tomorrow. What stands out to you about that?
"Yeah. Hell of a competitor. Obviously, uh, he's been in those big games. He's just calm, cool and collected through it all. So that's something you really appreciate and something that, um, you know, you want in your net. So, um, that's great news. I'm looking forward to it. And, you know, you can play the puck extremely well. And he's very good at his angles. And, um, yeah, he's a hell of a competitor."
Q: Toronto is all you've known. With this enviroment, with these players, how do you go about making yourself comfortable when you're out there?
I'm just trying to be myself. I mean, I've been fortunate enough to skate with a couple of these guys in the summertime. Um, knew a couple of guys that I've worked out with. So, um, just trying to get accommodated and, you know, trying to just be yourself. And I mean, I think a lot of people know me. I'm pretty loud and, you know, crazy. So, um, just trying to stick to that. And, you know, trying to keep everyone enjoying and have laughs.
Q: You mentioned, uh, finally joining forces with McDavid here. What was your biggest battle with him back in the day?
Everything. I mean, it's, yeah, what he is now is what he was before too. So, um, yeah, he, uh, it was hard to keep him to three points back in the day. So realistically, and, um, it was always a lot of fun to play against him because you knew what you were getting. You knew you were getting the best player. Um, and it wasn't, you know, surprised to see what he's doing now.
Q: What was this cool kind of moment with Sid since you've been here? I know it's only been a little bit, but picture yourself being like, this is so cool.
"I think just being able to be his teammate, sit in the locker room with him, you know, going out to dinner with him, stuff like that. But, um, you know, luckily enough, I've been able to skate with him the last couple of summers and kind of get a relationship with him. He's a great human being and something that, uh, you appreciate being around."
Q: A player like Devon Toews never played with Team Canada. How do you, like, the top players on the team can help those guys don't feel too much nervous during the game?
"I don't think they should. I mean, they've been in massive games in their career and, um, has proven in this league that he's one of the top defenders. So, um, you know, he's, uh, we haven't been able to play them yet this year, but with what he does just, you know, defensively wise, he's just so sound. He skates so smooth. He makes a lot of great plays and, um, yeah, it'd be good to be on his side for once."
Speaking about good, to be on his side for once, like, what's it like joining forces with (Brad) Marchand after all the playoff battles you guys?
"Yeah, it's good. Um, I mean, obviously another hell of a competitor and you know that from day one. So, um, something you're appreciative of, you know, just trying to learn off of him, trying to talk about things about, you know, if we're going to play together on the penalty kill or stuff like that, just trying to figure out what we want to try to do. So, um, it's been good to know him off the ice and, um, you know, like every guy, every guy's a hell of a competitor on the ice and, you know, everyone's a pretty, pretty great guy off. So, um, no difference there."
Q: Mitch, do you remember the first time you played and or saw Connor play and did he always have that kind of speed and acceleration?
"Yeah. Um, I don't know if I remember the first one, man. I mean, it was probably when I played for Whitby Wildcats and he was on York Simcoe. Um, I don't know how old he would have been there, but, um, I remember we had a finals against each other and he got the better hand of it and it was like for the OMHA championship or something. It was a tough one, but, um, he's always had that speed. He's always had that skill set. He's just continuing to get better and better with it. And that's, uh, it's been a hell of impressive."
Q: When you're on, when you're on the ice, have there been times where it's like, whoa, that's a little, a little quicker than maybe I anticipated when you first.
"Like on, are you saying these skates or like against them?"
Q: You know, when you first had skates, like in Vail or whatever?
"I mean, probably there's, you know, it's tough to think of, but there's so much skill out there and so much stuff going on that everything's just a foot quicker. Um, so, uh, it's hard to really kind of pinpoint one, but I mean, obviously, with just his speed and what he does out there at the pocket, it's pretty magical."
Q: At what age do you recall being aware of who Connor was?
"Probably seven or eight. I don't know. Like I said, when we played against each other in that OMHA thing, but it was probably around that age."
Q: What sort of, uh, what sort of atmosphere are you kind of expecting? Is it going to be like a usual Saturday Montreal Toronto game or do you think it might go up a notch? What are you expecting tomorrow here?
"I don't know. If it goes up a notch from that Saturday Montreal-Toronto game that we had here, it's going to be bananas. So, um, yeah, I don't know. It's, this crowd's always great. It's always, uh, a pretty crazy game where we come here with the atmosphere and everything like that. So it's something you look forward to."
Q: Will it be nice for them to cheer you this time?
"Uh, yeah. It'd be nice to be on their side for once. As I was saying before, um, it'd be nice to get cheered for and then, you know, booed and yelled at.
Q: Mitch, playing in the market that you do with us all around all the time, just, you know, the uncertainty, the contact, all that noise. Can a tournament like this just be a chance to mentally reset and just kind of block out everything?
"Um, maybe. I don't know. I mean, it's, um, you know, you're going to enjoy these things. You're going to enjoy these moments. Um, I don't know if it, you know, that changes in, in any way, but, um, I don't know. I mean, you're, you're just in this moment right now. You just, that's what I try to live as just in the moment and just try to enjoy that and whatever happens, happens."
Q: Do you have any friends and family coming?
"Yeah. My wife's coming tomorrow with my family, my mom and dad. Um, I believe my wife's family's coming as well down. I don't know if it's this game or the Boston one, but, um, it'll be great to have them around. I mean, they've been with me through a lot of my team Canada stuff. Um, all of them. So to have them around again, they'll be, uh, be real cool."
Q: Who's most pumped do you think?
"Probably my dad. Yeah. I mean, uh, I think like a lot of us here, we grew up cheering for 87 (Sidney Crosby) when he was wearing red and white and even when he was with the Pens. So, um, yeah, he's probably, probably the most fired up for that. And, and Nate Dog too, to be honest, he's, uh, he loves his game. So, um, yeah, he's, he's probably the most pumped out of anyone."
Q: How many questions is he asking you? Like, what are these guys?
"Um, yeah, I mean a lot. It's like, I was saying, I was lucky enough to skate with him a couple of times this past summer and before that. So, um, I would play with Nate at world as well. So I got to kind of know him there. And, um, yeah, it's constantly questions for sure from my pops."
Q" What went through your mind when you found out Drew (Doughty) was joining the team?
Yeah Super excited. Um, I mean, I got to know him a little bit kind of through summers in London. Um, obviously Jake Muzzin is a really close friend of mine and close friend of his. So, um, we've met each other in LA just once or twice through that as well connection. Um, but another guy that just, you know, has done a lot of things for the game of hockey, just with how he's played. He's so good with his puck play, his stick play, just getting in lanes as well. Like he's just a great player. So, um, I was really excited to hear that and, you know, for what he can do for our team."
-1740110184-q80.webp "Bills Linked $140 Million Receiver From AFC East")