TORONTO – When Team North America opened training camp Auston Matthews was the 13th forward. He'll start the first game of the tournament on the top line alongside Connor McDavid and Mark Scheifele. 

What does Matthews think of the combination? "I like it," he said with a broad smile. "We can definitely do some damage."

Head coach Todd McLellan believes Matthews has fully earned the promotion. 

"He's played with different players," McLellan noted, "he's played on the left side, in the middle and even on the right side a little bit and every time he goes on the ice he seems to be able to adapt to people around him and complement them. He's worked his way all the way up and give him credit for that. He's done an admirable job to earn his ice time. All he's done is get better every day."

"From (pre-tournament) game one to three I'm a completely different player," Matthews said. "I'm hanging on to the puck more and creating more offence. I'm definitely creating more opportunities for myself and my linemates. From game one to three I've gained a lot of confidence."

McDavid has also played well, but unlike Matthews has yet to find the scoresheet. The coaching staff believes he needs to be a bit more selfish and take full advantage of the chances. And they believe Matthews may be just the player to spark an offensive outburst from No. 97. 

"Connor has been getting better and I think Auston has been one of our top forwards," McLellan said. "I think those two can complement each other, Auston with his size and ability to hold onto pucks and Connor with his speed."

"All three of us are centres, which I like," McDavid said. "Anyone who comes back can play down low, which is nice."

Matthews stands 6-foot-2, 210 pounds and his size should help open up space for McDavid, who will be targeted physically by other teams. 

"Auston has the ability to play the game fast, but also slow it down with his size and protect pucks and make plays," said McLellan. "He has been one of our most responsible forwards as well on the defensive side of the puck so I don’t have a problem giving him those minutes and playing him with Connor."

There is a theory that players like McDavid, who think the game so well and so fast, are hard to find linemates for. Hockey Canada, in the past, has struggled to find the perfect fit for Sidney Crosby at major events although not at this year's World Cup. 

Expectations are sky high for these generational talents and the key is finding the best ways to maximize their incredible potential. McDavid skated with different linemates in all three pre-tournament games: Jonathan Drouin and Scheifele in the first game, Jack Eichel and Johnny Gaudreau in the second one and Drouin and Nathan MacKinnon in the final tune-up game. 

But the new combination, unveiled at Friday's practice, may just stick. McDavid believes Matthews thinks the game the same way as him, which should lead to some instant chemistry. 

"Every time he gets the puck he's looking to do something, he's not giving the puck away or anything like that," McDavid said. "He never really lets the puck go still and for someone like me and Scheif that's important. We're all quick guys so we can use that speed to our advantage."

"Connor's a special player," Matthews said, "he can do things out there at a certain pace that not many people can do. With him, you give him space, get open and move the puck well and hopefully we can take control in the offensive zone."

For Matthews, the youngest player on the World Cup's youngest team, getting a chance to play with a talent like McDavid is the perfect way to launch his first season in the NHL. And he knows full well this may be his only chance to share a dressing room with McDavid so he's definitely taking notes. 

"He's gotten to this point because of his work ethic, his determination and you can see that day in and day out," said Matthews, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Saturday. "There's a reason he's captain of this team. He always does the right thing."

McLellan has juggled his lines constantly since camp opened and said he will not hesitate to shake things up should his highly skilled, but inexperienced group stumble in Sunday's opener against Finland. And, for the record, the coach isn't buying the idea that players like McDavid are hard to find linemates for. 

"I don't know where that came from," the Edmonton Oilers bench boss said drawing laughs from the assembled media. "Every time I watch Sidney Crosby he seems to be getting a Stanley Cup or gold medal or world championship ring or world junior (gold) so somebody's been able to find wingers for Sidney Crosby and do a pretty good job so I don't know where all this came from. 

"Connor welcomes any kind of linemate or teammate. He feels it's his responsibility, a lot of times, to make them better and that's just a good sign of leadership. He puts a lot of pressure on himself."