Nathan MacKinnon’s bold Connor McDavid quote fuels Team Canada Olympic dominance
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 14, 2026 (12:08)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Nathan MacKinnon called Connor McDavid “the best” as Team Canada’s monster line popped, and it changed the whole Olympic vibe.
MacKinnon didn’t dance around it, he sounded like a hockey fan who still gets goosebumps.
Mark Masters shared MacKinnon’s full quote about being inspired by McDavid and calling the chance to play with him “a blessing.”
Then Jon Cooper actually pushed the button in Friday’s 5-1 win over Switzerland.
It started with a simple moment, a Swiss icing, a faceoff, and Cooper loading up MacKinnon with McDavid and Macklin Celebrini.
"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't cool. I love the game. I'm inspired by Connor. I think he's the best & he pushes me to be even better ... To play on a line with him is a blessing."
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Nathan MacKinnon
The result was loud: Canada won Group A, moved to 2-0-0-0, and grabbed a bye into the quarterfinals.
McDavid and MacKinnon each hit 1-2-3, and Celebrini added 1-1-2.
Nathan MacKinnon supercharges Team Canada
Canadian fans have been waiting a decade for this best-on-best flex, and you can feel the grin through the screens.
The scary part is it was not even their default look, Cooper opened with balance and kept his centers spread out.
But when the game asked for a jolt, Cooper trusted pure talent and let three natural centers sort it out on the fly.
Celebrini is 19, a 2024 first-round pick, drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks, and he already plays like he belongs in these moments.
The chemistry showed up on the man advantage and in the greasy spots too, especially when Celebrini’s forecheck helped free MacKinnon for a rebound.
It also helps that they’ve been rolling all season: McDavid had 96 NHL points, MacKinnon 93, and Celebrini 81 entering this one.
Sunday vs France is the next checkpoint, and the rest of the bracket now has to plan for a line that can break a game in one shift.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
The incredible reason Slovakia celebrated after losing to Sweden 5-3
The incredible reason Slovakia celebrated after losing to Sweden 5-3
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 14|228 ANSWERS Nathan MacKinnon’s bold Connor McDavid quote fuels Team Canada Olympic dominance Should Jon Cooper keep Nathan MacKinnon with Connor McDavid on Team Canada’s top line? | ||
| Yes | 193 | 84.6 % |
| No | 35 | 15.4 % |
| List of polls | ||