In a tournament like the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off, set to begin on Wednesday here in Montreal, players don't exactly have much time to get acclimated with their new teammates and coaching staff.

Team USA has had two on-ice sessions so far, and will have one more practice on Wednesday before their first game of the tournament on Thursday against Finland.

For most of these players, it's their first experience with Mike Sullivan as the head coach behind their bench. And they think Sullivan's style is one that sets clear expectations and should have them well-prepared in such a short period of time.

"I think he's a pretty straight shooter," Jack Hughes told me. "They've had a ton of success in Pittsburgh over the years, so I've heard a lot of good things about him. I'm excited, hopefully he'll coach in these events for a couple of years."

That "straight shooter" notion was a common thread from players, and something they like in this setting where there isn't time to waste.

"He's been great," Auston Matthews told me of Sullivan. "He's very direct, very, very straight to the point. In a tournament like this, where you only get a couple practices and then you're right into games, the simpler is the better route."

Off the ice, Team USA has had extensive meetings and video sessions, which Zach Werenski called "super detailed" in how the staff explains the systems and ways in which they are expected to play. But a number of players added that within those systems, Sullivan doesn't want the team to be too structured. He doesn't want to take the sticks out of players' hands.

"There's some basic guidelines system stuff," Matthews explained. "But in the end, it's doing what we do best, which is going out there and playing hockey and just competing at a high level."

"He wants to give us kind of a semblance of the structure," Adam Fox said. "But at the same time, it's not being too hands on, and letting us play hockey. He's been great."

Players have relished the opportunity of getting to play for a coach different than their own and learning from the experience. Chris Kreider, who had Sullivan as his assistant coach with the Rangers in his rookie 2012-13 season, called the tournament a "reintroduction" and pointed to Sullivan having some unique vernacular that he remembers from that rookie year. The Wild's Matt Boldy was interested to find that Sullivan is "very similar" to his own coach John Hynes in their approach and systems. Matthew Tkachuk said that he finds Sullivan "very different" than what he's used to in Florida, but that he's enjoyed the new experience.

"He's so very detailed, and he's very smart," Tkachuk said. "He's been great so far. We're only two practices in, but I've really enjoyed it so far, and I'm looking forward to getting into that game atmosphere with him. He's a very calming presence, which will be great for our team."