Marchand: 'By far' best version of Team USA I've played

Canada forward Brad Marchand lauded Team USA ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game Thursday.

"They're by far the best (version of Team USA) that I've played," the 36-year-old said Wednesday, according to Sportsnet's Eric Engels. "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.

"They embody a team that competes at the highest level. They have everything. They check well, they play physical, they have incredible talent, the defensemen 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."

The U.S. beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday in a heated affair. Thursday's rematch is for the first best-on-best title since 2016.

"These are the games you're gonna remember for the rest of your life," Marchand said, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox.

Marchand represented Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He scored the title-winning goal in the final minute of Game 2 against Team Europe. He also played for Canada at the 2016 Worlds and the 2007 and 2008 world juniors.

The United States won the 1996 World Cup of Hockey for its only triumph in a tournament featuring NHL players. Canada has won the last three best-on-best events.