SUNRISE, Fla. — Connor McDavid and Aleksander Barkov often solely to get to play in opposition to one another twice a season.

Within the Stanley Cup Ultimate, McDavid, the sport’s most gifted offensive participant, will probably go head-to-head with Barkov, the reigning Selke Trophy winner because the NHL’s prime defensive ahead, for as many as seven video games with hockey’s largest prize on the road.

It is going to be probably the most intriguing matchups of the Ultimate between McDavid’s Edmonton Oilers and Barkov’s Florida Panthers, which begins with Recreation 1 on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS).

“It is at all times enjoyable if you get into the playoffs, and you have among the finest gamers taking part in in opposition to one another in significant video games,” Oilers ahead Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stated at Stanley Cup Ultimate Media Day on Friday. “I am certain they’re considering sort of the identical factor over there, however actually whoever you go in opposition to, you have to discover a option to beat them, whether or not it is Barkov or (Sam) Bennett or their different couple of traces. So, it is at all times a problem and it’ll be enjoyable.”

McDavid, a three-time winner of the Hart Trophy (2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23) because the NHL’s Most worthy participant, and finalist once more this season, leads the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 31 factors (5 targets, 26 assists) in 18 video games. The 27-year-old middle was third within the NHL through the common season with 132 factors (32 targets, 100 assists) in 76 video games, the seventh time in his 9 NHL seasons he reached 100.

McDavid has received the Artwork Ross Trophy because the NHL chief in factors through the common season 5 occasions (2016-18, 2020-23).

“He is a very, actually good participant,” Barkov stated. “He is an distinctive expertise, for certain. Everybody is aware of how good he’s. I needn’t begin speaking about his sport right here, however it’ll take the entire crew, for certain. Each man on the ice wants to pay attention to the right way to play in opposition to him.”