Sidney Crosby Named Captain for Canada’s Olympic Squad, McDavid and Makar to Wear the ‘A’
It’s official: Sidney Crosby will once again lead Team Canada into Olympic battle, this time at the 2026 Winter Games in Milano Cortina. Hockey Canada has named the 38-year-old icon as captain for the men’s hockey tournament, with Connor McDavid and Cale Makar serving as alternates.
This isn’t new territory for Crosby, who’s worn the “C” for Canada on some of the sport’s biggest stages. He captained the 2014 Olympic squad in Sochi, guiding a dominant Canadian team to gold.
He’s also led the national team at the 2015 IIHF World Championship, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and more recently at last year’s 4-Nations Face-Off and World Championship. The resume speaks for itself.
Of course, Crosby’s legacy with Team Canada was cemented long ago - you don’t need to look further than the “Golden Goal” in Vancouver back in 2010. That overtime winner against the U.S. remains one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sports history. Now, more than a decade later, he’s back in the captain’s role, potentially for the final time on Olympic ice.
While this could be Crosby’s last Olympic run, the future is already skating alongside him. McDavid, widely viewed as his heir apparent in the leadership role, will once again wear an “A.” And Cale Makar, arguably the top defenseman in the world right now, joins him as an alternate - a strong nod to Canada’s next generation of stars already stepping into leadership roles.
Around the Rinks: Young Talent Pushing for NHL Ice Time
Let’s shift gears to the NHL pipeline, where a pair of young players are turning heads - and possibly forcing some tough decisions for their respective clubs.
In Detroit, 23-year-old goaltender Sebastian Cossa is making a serious case for NHL consideration. Drafted 15th overall back in 2021, Cossa is putting together his best professional season yet with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. He’s sporting a 20-4-2 record with a sparkling .928 save percentage, backstopping a powerhouse Griffins squad and showing the kind of consistency that NHL coaches love.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings’ current goaltending situation is solid at the top. John Gibson, brought in during the offseason, has done his job with a 22-12-2 record and a .904 save percentage.
But the backup spot? That’s where things get interesting.
Veteran Cam Talbot, now 38, has struggled with an .892 save percentage over 24 games - a number that lands him in the bottom tier among goalies with at least 20 starts this season. If Cossa keeps this up, Detroit might be forced to make a call sooner rather than later.
Out west, the Edmonton Oilers have a rising blueliner in Damien Carfagna who’s quietly building a case of his own. The 23-year-old defenseman, undrafted but undeterred, is in his first year as a pro and has notched 13 points through 40 games with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors.
While those numbers won’t jump off the page, it’s Carfagna’s skating that’s drawing attention. According to reports, his mobility is already standing out at the AHL level - a key tool in today’s NHL where speed from the back end is more valuable than ever.
With Edmonton always looking to bolster its blue line depth, Carfagna could be in line for a call-up if injuries or inconsistency open the door. For now, he’s doing everything right to stay on the radar.
Bottom Line
With Crosby set to lead Canada one more time, and young talent like Cossa and Carfagna knocking on the NHL door, it’s a reminder of how the hockey world constantly balances legacy with what’s next. One generation leaves its mark, while the next is already carving out its path.