$64,000,000 USA forward makes his feelings known about being Auston Matthews's possible linemate

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes shared his thoughts about the opportunity to play alongside Auston Matthews during the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

Hughes, who was added to Team USA's roster, is eager to play with Matthews. He said that it would be fun to experience the thrill of teaming up with such a talented player, even if it's just for a few games.

"Just seeing him and Mitch Marner do their thing," Hughes, a center with the New Jersey Devils, said NHL.com on Thursday.

"It'd be fun to play with a guy that has scored (69) goals in the NHL, so even if it's a few games, that's something I'm definitely looking forward to ... the possibility of that."

Auston Matthews was one of the first six players selected for Team USA's roster in June, and it looks like Jack Hughes could join the Leafs captain on the front line during the competition.

Hughes expressed his excitement about possibly playing on the wing, noting the impressive talent on the roster. He mentioned that being able to play alongside players he usually watches in the NHL is a great opportunity.

"I'm excited to play with some guys that usually we see on a nightly basis. You watch them and you're like, 'Wow, they're great players,' so for me to get the chance to play with them, that's pretty exciting," Hughes added.

The 4 Nations Face-Off tournament will feature four teams: Canada, the USA, Sweden and Finland. The competition will take place in Boston and Montreal from Feb. 12 to 20.

Jack Hughes, who's signed to an eight-year, $64 million contract, has accumulated 33 points this season, with 11 goals and 22 assists in 28 games.

---

Auston Matthews on Mitch Marner's performance during his absence

Auston Matthews expressed his appreciation for Mitch Marner stepping up during his absence from the lineup. He missed 12 games due to an upper body injury, and Marner's performance during that time was crucial for the team.

Matthews noted that Marner contributes to the team's offense and defense, which is encouraging for their overall performance.

"It's easy. He's obviously an incredible player and really easy to play with. We've logged a lot of minutes together, so we always have that familiarity and chemistry," Matthews said.

"Mitchy drives so much play for us, does so much for us on both sides of the puck. When you see that, it's really encouraging," he added.

Auston Matthews has racked up 16 points through eight goals and as many assists in 16 games this season.