Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is on track for a historic Team Canada moment. Heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics, there was little doubt that Sidney Crosby was going to be captain.
But that’s something that could change on Friday. Crosby’s injury in Team Canada’s last game against Czechia opened the door for McDavid to inherit the C from Crosby. As Pierre LeBrun noted in The Athletic, Friday’s game could be a passing-of-the-torch moment.
While Canadian coach Jon Cooper has been standoffish about providing an injury update on Crosby, speculation has run rampant about McDavid taking over for Crosby.
There’s a good reason for that assertion. Under international rules, every team must have a captain for each game. If Crosby is unable to go, the most immediate choice is McDavid.
While there could be a case for other Team Canada players to wear the C, it would be a shock not to see McDavid become anointed. In fact, McDavid has been earmarked seemingly forever for this moment.
It’s McDavid’s moment. Unless Crosby suddenly emerges healthy and ready to play against Finland, well, this entire conversation will be moot. But if things remain the way they are, the Oilers’ star could make history, marking a natural leadership transition for Team Canada.
McDavid Part of Intense Debate Leading up to 2026 Winter Olympics
There was debate leading up to the Olympics regarding whether it was time for McDavid to become Team Canada captain. That debate met some pushback as Crosby’s presence on the team pretty much precluded anyone else from wearing the “C.”
Still, the discussion has not gone away. Crosby is 38, and these Olympics are likely his last. So, 2030 would finally mark the moment that the Oilers’ captain would take over as the top leader for Team Canada.
The discussion, nevertheless, insisted that now was the best time for Canada to hand over the torch. NHLers’ return to the Olympics, with an aging Crosby on board, would have marked the moment for the transition to McDavid.
It seems that Radko Gudas decided that situation for everyone involved.
Could Canada Consider Someone Else for Captaincy?
So, picking McDavid as captain seems like a no-brainer. But would there be anyone else up for consideration?
The most immediate option would be Cale Makar. Makar is the other alternate captain named for the tournament. If Team Canada’s management group chooses to name someone other than McDavid, it would be Makar.
Such a decision, while hardly crazy, would certainly raise more than a few eyebrows. Would Team Canada consider going down that route? Who knows. Makar is certainly a worthy candidate, along with just about every player on Team Canada.
Other fine choices could be Nick Suzuki, Mark Stone, Brad Marchand, and Bo Horvat, all of whom are current captains or have been captains in the NHL. There could also be a case for Nathan MacKinnon. He wore an “A” at the 4 Nations Face-Off last season. So, McKinnon wouldn’t be a stretch.
While plenty of choices lie on Team Canada’s roster, McDavid will likely get the nod should Crosby be unable to play.
McDavid Poised for Historic Team Canada Captaincy