Team Canada needed a hero in overtime against the United States on Thursday, and in that moment, Connor McDavid stepped up and laced home the game winner past Connor Hellebuyck to clinch a dramatic and emotionally charged win for the Canadians.
After the game, many saw the interview with captain Sidney Crosby, and with the Penguins star closing in on 40-years old, many saw this as a passing of the torch with McDavid, who alongside Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar represent the future of the international team.
When asked about that, McDavid had different ideas, as he suggested that Sid will still be around for quite some time, stating that no torch has yet been passed by arguably Canada's greatest ever player.
It's not quite confirmation that Crosby will be around for the 2026 Olympic Games, but given that he's still a point-per-game player in the NHL and arguably the greatest leader the game has ever seen, he'll no doubt continue to be an asset for this team.
Beyond that tournament, the next time Team Canada will play is in 2028 with the return of the NHL to the Hockey World Cup, and while Crosby's presence at that tournament is up in the air, it's clear that Hockey Canada is in good hands.
For a generation of fans, Crosby has been Canadian hockey, and that run is coming to an end soon, but with McDavid leading a star studded group around him, it's safe to say that there's still some legs left for No. 87 at the international level.
POLL | ||
FEVRIER 21 | 1244 ANSWERS Connor McDavid Makes his Feelings Clear on the Passing of the Torch from Sidney Crosby Will Sidney Crosby captain Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games? | ||
Yes | 948 | 76.2 % |
No | 296 | 23.8 % |
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