Oilers' Connor McDavid wants Sidney Crosby to captain Team Canada

By Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Rob Rossi and Josh Yohe

EDMONTON – Connor McDavid didn't even bat an eyelid. He didn't even have to think about it.

When asked who he thinks should be the captain of Team Canada at the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Tournament in February, the answer was clear for the Edmonton Oilers superstar.

“It should be Sid,” McDavid said. “It should definitely be Sid. It’s not even a question.”

Sid is, of course, the leader of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sidney Crosby. He and McDavid will be teammates for the first time in less than four months. Both players were named to Team Canada as part of the initial rosters in June.

McDavid, 27, grew up idolizing Crosby, who is nearly 10 years older. They first met after a Pittsburgh Penguins game when McDavid was playing junior hockey and had traveled from nearby Erie, Penn.

McDavid succeeded Crosby as the next great Canadian hockey star. McDavid has won the Hart Trophy as league MVP three times (one more than Crosby) and the Art Ross Trophy as scoring champion five times (three more than Crosby). McDavid is just 10 points away from 1,000 points in his NHL career.

What McDavid doesn't have is a stacked trophy case full of team hardware. McDavid won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in June, but the Oilers lost to the Florida Panthers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Meanwhile, Crosby is perhaps the outstanding winner of his era, with three Cup victories, two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup title. He was the MVP in two of Pittsburgh's Cup victories and the 2016 World Cup and scored the overtime winner at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Add it all up and any debate over who should be Canada's captain is short for McDavid.

“It’s exactly the way it should be,” McDavid said. “He’s Sidney Crosby and he’s been there so many times. He's the guy. It's not like I thought about it much. It’s just so natural.”

McDavid has aspired to compete for Canada in a best-on-best international event for years – and has been vocal about that desire. Since turning professional after being drafted first overall in the 2015 draft, McDavid has competed in the 2016 World Cup and two World Cups in 2016 and 2018 as a member of the North American U23 team.

The NHL not sending players to the 2018 Olympics, the league withdrawing from participation in the 2022 Games due to COVID-19 and the lack of another World Cup has prevented McDavid from sharing the ice with Crosby for Canada.

Now McDavid will get that chance in February as a more robust and consistent best-on-best schedule approaches.

“It’s the prequel to what’s to come,” McDavid said. “With the Olympic Games next year we will return to international play. It’s a great opportunity for the four countries to put on a great show to continue to grow football and show what’s to come in the international game in the coming years.”

For McDavid, the opportunity to play with Crosby before he retires is icing on the cake. His appreciation for Crosby remains high, especially after watching him post back-to-back 93- and 94-point seasons at ages 35 and 36.

“He didn’t seem to have changed at all,” McDavid said. “He has done great year after year. It’s so impressive to see someone I admired as a child still doing it today.”

McDavid and Crosby will play in an NHL game for the 14th time when the Oilers host the Penguins on Friday. The Penguins have won their first six games and the Oilers have won their last seven. McDavid clearly outperformed Crosby; No. 97 has nine goals and 27 points, while No. 87 has three goals and seven points.

Crosby's Team Canada story

Aside from the 2006 Winter Olympics, where a rookie Crosby was mysteriously absent, and his late decision not to compete in the IIHF World Championship, Crosby has been synonymous with Canadian success on the international stage. From the World Junior Championships to his Most Outstanding Player performance at the last World Cup of Hockey, it's difficult to tell the story of Team Canada men's hockey without first mentioning Sidney Patrick Crosby.

His golden goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics is perhaps his signature hockey moment. And he was the driving force behind the gold medal squad at the 2014 Sochi Games, arguably the greatest hockey squad of all time.

Crosby is no longer the unquestionably best player, as he was in the 2010 and 2014 Games and the 2016 World Cup, but he is still very, very good. But as one of the legendary captains in NHL history – next season he will set a record for most seasons captaining a club – Crosby won't just be a ceremonial captain, like the struggling Mario Lemieux was with the Salt Lake City Games 2002 was.

He can still play at a high level, even if McDavid has long since inherited the unofficial title of best player. Will you show McDavid and others how to handle the enormous pressure that comes with Canada's participation in a tournament where the world expects you to not just win, but do so convincingly? Crosby is probably particularly qualified for this given his international experience.

Crosby was informed of McDavid's words after the Penguins' practice in Edmonton late Thursday afternoon.

The Penguins captain, who first called McDavid the best player in the NHL five years ago, reacted in his usual modest manner.

“I appreciate it,” Crosby said with a smile. “I think I might be able to do that because I have a little more experience.”

Crosby suggested that McDavid would also be a reasonable choice for Canada's captaincy.

“He’s obviously a great leader,” Crosby said. “He has done so much for his team here and also for Canada. Anytime you want to wear a letter, be it a “C” or an “A” for Team Canada, it is definitely a great honor. But I appreciate that.”

Crosby first became aware of McDavid in the fall of 2012 during the NHL lockout. When Crosby talked about McDavid back then, he was asked if McDavid reminded him of anyone. “He reminds me of me,” Crosby said.

More than a decade later, Crosby is considered one of the greatest hockey players in history and McDavid is on track to join him in that pantheon. The two don't know each other particularly well, but they are in contact regarding Team Canada.

“I skated with him a little bit,” Crosby said. “You see him up close, you see how fast he is, how good his hands are. All at high speed. He makes things look easy but really aren't. He’s getting better and better, which is even more impressive.”

Crosby said being captain of an NHL team and being captain of a short, international tournament are two different things.

“There are a lot of people who are used to being that guy,” Crosby said. “As much as everyone wants to do this and you want to have that mentality, you might have to give a little bit. Trying to find that balance takes some time. But you don't have much time. You have to find out (quickly).”

When it comes to McDavid and the captain of the most famous hockey team in the world, Crosby remains the man.

Required reading

(Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)