Connor McDavid sends a strong message about Sidney Crosby ahead of the Olympics
Oilers' Connor McDavid sent a strong message to Team Canada officials about Sidney Crosby; he believes Sid should undoubtedly be the captain of the squad.
Rosters for the 12 men's hockey teams at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will start being revealed in the coming days. These announcements will end months of speculation over who makes the cut and who might be left out.
It's not just fans and media waiting; some of the game's top players are watching closely. Team Canada will announce the rest of its roster on Wednesday.
Connor McDavid and Matthew Tkachuk are already confirmed, health permitting, after being named to their countries' preliminary rosters in June: McDavid for Canada, Tkachuk for the United States.
What Connor McDavid had to say about the captaincy situation
Team Canada has not named a captain yet, but McDavid made his preference clear this weekend: Sidney Crosby should be the choice.
McDavid, who leads the NHL with 68 points (24 goals, 44 assists), and teammate Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, second in scoring with 64 points (31 goals, 33 assists), are both in peak form, but McDavid says Crosby's experience makes him the obvious leader.
"Absolutely Sidney is the captain," McDavid told Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey on Hockey Night in Canada's After Hours on Saturday. "It's not a question. It's for the career he's had, the moments he's had. He's been there. He's experienced everything. Just his calm presence. He's the leader in the room. And there's no doubt about that.
"But the great thing about this group is that so many guys can lead, are leaders on their own team, and are comfortable speaking up. They're comfortable owning the moment. We saw that last year at the 4 Nations (Face-Off). You know, the room is great."
- Connor McDavid
"But the great thing about this group is that so many guys can lead, are leaders on their own team, and are comfortable speaking up. They're comfortable owning the moment. We saw that last year at the 4 Nations (Face-Off). You know, the room is great."
- Connor McDavid
Why Sidney Crosby is called "Captain Canada"
Crosby, often called "Captain Canada," has worn the "C" for his country at multiple international events, including the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The full roster announcement is coming soon, and fans will finally see which players will represent Canada on the Olympic stage.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 30 | 280 ANSWERS Connor McDavid sends a strong message about Sidney Crosby ahead of the Olympics Should Sidney Crosby be the captain of Team Canada? | ||
| Yes | 254 | 90.7 % |
| No | 26 | 9.3 % |
| List of polls | ||