Doughty: Canada won't be 'satisfied with anything' but 4 Nations victory

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty may have been a late addition to Team Canada, but he's already bringing the right attitude to the 4 Nations Face-Off.

"Obviously, as Canadians, the players feel the same way as the fans," he said, per NHL.com's Nicholas J. Cotsonika. "We expect to win, and we're not going to be satisfied with anything but a championship. I think a lot of the guys in here, we feel that pressure, obviously. But that's what we thrive under.

"That's why (we're) all superstars in this league, is because we thrive under that pressure, and it doesn't affect our game."

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon similarly welcomed the spotlight.

"Definitely feel a lot of pressure," he said. "Absolutely. I think pressure is a privilege, and I'm glad there's pressure. It means people expect a lot of us.

"We're maybe (an) inspiration to some young kids around the country. If I was 10 years old right now, I'd be tuned in to this tournament. So, definitely excited."

Doughty made his season debut on Jan. 29 after recovering from a fractured ankle and was swiftly named to Team Canada's blue line as a replacement for the injured Alex Pietrangelo.

The veteran rearguard helped his country win gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. NHL players didn't participate in the past two Games, so the last taste of best-on-best action in men's hockey came at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where Doughty and Team Canada beat Team Europe to finish atop the podium.

The Canadians held their first 4 Nations practice on Monday, where head coach Jon Cooper got his first on-ice look at his stacked roster:

Despite Canada's pedigree and its long list of superstars, Team USA is largely considered the favorite to win the 4 Nations Face-Off, thanks to its elite group of goaltenders and star-studded blue line. The U.S. program as a whole is also carrying some momentum after winning the past two World Juniors Championships, while Canada failed to medal at both.

Captain Canada Sidney Crosby - also a two-time Olympic gold medalist - didn't sound too worried about how outsiders are viewing his team's chances at the 4 Nations.

"That's OK," he said. "There's always going to be certain narratives. I think really it's just about our group and making sure that we do everything we can to be at our best.

"Whether it's the U.S. or Sweden or Finland, (these are) some good teams, so we've just got to worry about what we need to do to be the best team we can."

The tournament kicks off Wednesday with Canada's clash against Sweden at 8 p.m. ET. The final is scheduled for Feb. 20.