Team Canada is already looking at a potential Olympic semifinal without Sidney Crosby.
Crosby sustained a lower-body injury during the come-from-behind quarterfinal win over Czechia on Wednesday.
Canada has to be back on the ice Friday for its semifinal matchup with Finland. Crosby’s status is still unknown.
Head coach Jon Cooper told reporters Thursday that Crosby hasn’t been ruled out yet, and he doesn’t want to discuss Crosby as if he’s been ruled out.
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That, for now, tables another discussion.
In IIHF rules, a player on the gameday active roster always has to have the captain’s ‘C’.
Crosby is Canada’s captain, but if he’s ruled out, Canada has to give the ‘C’ to another player.
Jon Cooper emphatic Team Canada hasn’t ruled out Sidney Crosby. Says it’s a day to day situation.
If Crosby doesn’t play Friday, Team Canada has to put a ‘C’ on another player. Cooper wouldn’t go there with us, because he’s not ready to rule Crosby out yet.— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 19, 2026
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Canada likely would have just two guys to pick from. Their alternate captains for the tournament are Connor McDavid and Cale Makar.
McDavid is pretty widely acknowledged as the best hockey player on the planet. He’s his generation’s Crosby. He’d be a straightforward choice.
Makar is one of the best defensemen in the world and wouldn’t be a bad selection, either.
Canada would sure prefer to have Crosby out there wearing his own ‘C’, but it remains to be seen whether that will happen.
If not, everyone in the Canadian captain hierarchy will move up a spot, presumably with someone else named an alternate, as well.
