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Brad Marchand's Bold Remark on Team USA Turns Heads

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Treppedi | Last updated Feb 19, 2025 2:59 PM ET

The United States and Canada will get another shot at each other on Thursday in the 2024 4 Nations Face-Off championship.

As if the first meeting in round-robin play, which amassed 10.1 million viewers, didn't showcase enough pride and passion, the rivaling hockey nations are showcasing the most sheer talent that has ever been assembled on a sheet of ice.

Canadian forward and notorious instigator Brad Marchand acknowledged that.

Marchand noted that this United States club is unlike anything he's ever faced in his 15-year NHL career.

“They’re by far the best that I’ve played. No disrespect to the previous teams, but the way the game has evolved the past 10 years, some of the players on their team will be some of the best players to ever play the game of hockey," Marchand told reporters on Wednesday.

"They embody a team that competes at the highest level. They have everything. They check well, they play physical, they have incredible talent, the defencemen on their team can all skate, they’re all good size, and their goaltending is also incredible. So they don’t have any weaknesses. Just their skill level’s incredible to watch. You look at them and you look at that team and there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s definitely the best that I’ve seen, really that I think I’ve ever played against.”

Asked Brad Marchand where this Team USA ranked against ones he's played in the past. He said they're the best he's ever played against. His full answer: “They’re by far the best that I’ve played. No disrespect to the previous teams, but the way the game has evolved the past 10…
— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) February 19, 2025

The United States marched back to defeat Canada 3-1 on Saturday, but have lost marquee defenseman Charlie McAvoy since.

Canada was missing their superstar defenseman Cale Makar in the first grudge matach, but he returned to face Finland in Monday's final game of round-robin play.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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