In an unexpected team-up, Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews and Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid took to the ice together on Wednesday at the SAP Garden in Munich, Germany.
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The two were filmed skating together, with Matthews making a pass across the ice to McDavid’s stick, who is seen shooting at EHC Red Bull Munich goalie Christopher Kolarz in the photo.
The stadium is known for hosting EHC Red Bull Munich matches throughout the season.
Kolarz also shared an image on his Instagram account, showing himself with Matthews and McDavid after their training session. The photo shows the two in their respective NHL team training uniforms.
The content, which highlights the partnership between the two NHL stars, has further fueled speculation about how their time together could influence future partnerships in the future. NHL fans got a glimpse of that during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where the two represented “Team North America,” captained by McDavid.
Matthews recently joined the captaincy club after being named the 26th captain in Maple Leafs history on August 14, taking over the top leadership role from teammate John Tavares. The 26-year-old is coming off a career-high 69-goal season that saw him win his third Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy before adding 38 assists to go with 107 points in the regular season.
Related: ‘It Was Pretty Cool Seeing Them Wear the 34 with the C’: Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews Surprised to See John Tavares’ Sons Wear New Captain’s Jersey
With the 2024-25 season about to get underway, the forward is entering the first year of a four-year, $53 million contract he signed in August 2023. The contract has an average annual value (AAV) of $13.25 million — the highest AAV in the NHL for the upcoming season.
The decision for both stars to train together at this time was unexpected, as they typically focus on their own team preparations closer to the season. While the reason for their meeting in Munich remains unclear, both players are clearly using this time to refine their skills in preparation for the 2024-25 NHL season.
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