When Connor McDavid hit the ice on Friday, the most noticeable difference was his jersey. Team Canada officially anointed McDavid as captain for their semi-final matchup against Finland.
Under McDavid’s watch, Canada pulled out a gutsy, 3-2 come-from-behind win. The game-winner came in the final minute on a power play tally by Nathan MacKinnon. McDavid had two assists in the game, seemingly flying all over the ice.
But when the rubber hit the road, it was McDavid’s presence that allowed other Canadian stars, like MacKinnon, to shine. MacKinnon, for his part, wore an “A” on his jersey as he did during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
Had Team Canada folded and lost against Finland, questions would have ensued about how McDavid couldn’t get the job done. That was a narrative that quietly built as Finland grabbed a 2-0 lead.
In particular, Finland’s shorthanded goal was an especially tough one to swallow. But Team Canada gradually took over the game, eventually overwhelming the Finnish side. The Finns, for their part, seemed content to just fall back and try to defend their lead at all costs.
The outcome showed just how dangerous that strategy was. They nearly got away with it. Finland will play one more game, with a valuable lesson in tow.
Canada will also play one more game. There seems to be a chance that Sidney Crosby might be back for that matchup. While that would be a huge morale boost, there’s a case for Crosby to relinquish the captaincy in the gold-medal game on Sunday.
Crosby Could Still Captain Team Canada One Last Time
If Crosby can return for the gold-medal game, he could captain Team Canada for one last time. At 38, it’s unlikely he’ll be back in 2030. While certainly possible, it doesn’t seem all that likely.
That said, it would be a token of good faith to allow Crosby to wear the “C” in the final game. That situation depends, of course, on Crosby’s health. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ superstar is a consummate gamer. So, he’ll grit through pain as long as he can help the team.
That wasn’t the case on Friday. He sat out the semi-final game, paving the way for the sorts of heroics fans have customarily seen from McDavid.
Gold Medal Would Be Fitting Ending for McDavid
A gold medal would be a fitting ending for Team Canada and Connor McDavid. After the bitter disappointment of coming up short multiple times in the Stanley Cup Final, getting a gold medal would be the ultimate consolation prize.
Winning gold in Milano-Cortina would mark a watershed moment in McDavid’s career. It would mark the sort of validation that he had needed in big games. The Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers in 2024 left plenty unwritten.
A victory on Sunday would go a long way towards adding a valuable page to that script. Regardless of what happens on Sunday, there is little doubt now that Team Canada belongs to McDavid.
In 2030, it will be McDavid wearing the “C” full-time to go with the red maple leaf.
Team Canada Now Belongs to McDavid