Crosby to Captain Team Canada Once Again, Joined by McDavid and Makar in Olympic Leadership Group
It’s official: Sidney Crosby will wear the “C” for Team Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. And really, was there ever any doubt?
The 38-year-old legend has long been the heartbeat of Canadian hockey on the international stage, and he’s back once more to lead a squad stacked with talent and expectations. Flanking him in the leadership group are two of the NHL’s brightest stars-Connor McDavid and Cale Makar-who will each don an “A” on their jerseys.
This isn’t Crosby’s first rodeo wearing the captain’s patch for Canada. He led the charge at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, where Canada clinched gold with a dominant, defense-first performance.
He’s also captained the team at the 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, last year’s 4-Nations Face-Off, and last year’s World Championship. Simply put, when Canada needs a leader on the biggest stages, Crosby’s the guy they turn to.
And for good reason. Beyond the medals and accolades, Crosby gave Canada one of its most iconic hockey memories: the “Golden Goal” in overtime at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
That goal didn’t just win gold-it cemented his legacy in Canadian sports history. Now, as he prepares for what could be his final Olympic appearance, Crosby has one more shot to add to his international legacy.
With McDavid waiting in the wings as the likely future captain, this Olympic run feels like a symbolic passing of the torch-but not before one last ride with No. 87 leading the way.
Around the Rinks: Young Talent Making NHL Pushes
While the spotlight shines on the Olympic stage, there’s some serious movement happening in the NHL pipeline-starting with goaltender Sebastian Cossa. The 23-year-old former first-round pick (15th overall in 2021) is putting together a breakout season with Grand Rapids, going 20-4-2 with a .928 save percentage. That’s not just good-it’s the kind of performance that demands attention from the big club in Detroit.
With John Gibson holding steady as the Red Wings’ starter (22-12-2, .904 save percentage), the real question becomes the backup spot. Cam Talbot, now 38, has struggled to find consistency this season, posting an .892 save percentage over 24 games-a mark that ranks among the bottom-15 in the league for goalies with at least 20 appearances. If Cossa keeps this up, Detroit might have to make a call sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, in the Oilers’ system, defenseman Damien Carfagna is quietly making a name for himself. The 23-year-old undrafted rookie is in his first year as a pro and has notched 13 points in 40 games with the Bakersfield Condors.
But it’s not just the numbers that are turning heads-it’s the way he moves. His skating has drawn high praise, with some around the league calling it “exceptional at the AHL level.”
That kind of mobility from the back end is exactly what modern NHL teams crave, and Edmonton could soon reward Carfagna with a look at the next level.
As the Olympic torch gets passed and the NHL playoff race heats up, don’t sleep on the young guns grinding in the AHL. The next wave is coming-and some of them might be closer than you think.