Team Canada HC Jon Cooper weighs in on captaincy decision involving Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and others

The 4 Nations Face-Off will be held from Feb. 12-20, featuring stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mitch Marner and Nathan MacKinnon playing for Team Canada. In an interview with The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday, the team's coach, Jon Cooper, talked about the team’s captaincy decision.

“It’s like picking the team — you’re not throwing out the top 20 Canadian scorers and saying they’re on the team,” Cooper said. “The team is oozing with leadership. There’s (NHL) captains and assistants all over this team.

“I think a little bit of thought has to go into it. There has to be communication with management, coaches and some players. “But we’ll announce that in due time.”

Team Canada's roster has many talented players. There are several members from the Tampa Bay Lightning whom Cooper knows well, such as Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli and Brandon Hagel.

The captaincy decision has gotten a lot of attention. Crosby, a well-known leader with three Stanley Cup titles and Olympic gold medals, is the top candidate. McDavid, seen as the best player in the league, and MacKinnon, an important player for the Avalanche, are also in the mix.

Connor McDavid and Brad Marchand earlier shared their excitement for the 4 Nations Face-Off

The 4 Nations Face-Off will take place in Montreal and Boston. Connor McDavid, one of the team’s top forwards, shared his excitement last month.

"It’s an exciting group to be a part of," Connor McDavid said per NHL.com. "I'm extremely proud and honoured to be a part of that group and represent my country."

Brad Marchand, another forward on the team, talked about the honor of representing Canada.

"Going through with guys from back home will be even more special,” Marchand said. “Anytime you get to put the Canadian jersey on and be part of something like that, it truly is a massive honor."

The team also has strong defensemen like Cale Makar, Devon Toews, Alex Pietrangelo and Shea Theodore. The goaltenders include Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault. Team Canada will play Sweden in its first game on Feb. 12 in Montreal.