Sidney Crosby named Team Canada captain for 4 Nations Face-Off

Crosby leads Canada’s roster with McDavid and Makar as alternate captains.

Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins knocks the puck out of the air during the third period against the Utah Hockey Club at the Delta Center on January 29, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images

By Randy Ahmad and Hayu Andini

Sidney Crosby has once again been chosen to lead Team Canada on the international stage. On Thursday, Team Canada officially named the Pittsburgh Penguins star as its captain for next month’s 4 Nations Face-Off, a decision that was widely expected given his storied career and leadership history.

Crosby, known for scoring the iconic "Golden Goal" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, has previously worn the captain’s "C" for Canada at two major best-on-best tournaments—the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He led Canada to victory in both events, cementing his place as one of the nation’s greatest international players.

At 37 years old, Crosby is the oldest player in the 4 Nations Face-Off, yet he remains a dominant force in the NHL. With 55 points in 53 games this season, including an overtime winner on Wednesday, he continues to perform at an elite level. His leadership and experience made him the obvious choice to captain Team Canada once again.

Crosby’s unparalleled international success

Crosby’s resume in international hockey is among the most decorated in Canadian history. When he wears the Team Canada jersey, the country has an astonishing 45-5-0 record. His achievements include:

Two Olympic gold medals (2010, 2014)
A World Cup of Hockey title (2016, where he was also named tournament MVP)
A gold medal at the IIHF World Hockey Championship
A World Junior Championship gold medal

While Connor McDavid is widely considered the best player in the world today, even he insisted that the Team Canada captaincy belonged to Crosby.

“It should be Sid. It should be Sid for sure,” McDavid said in October when asked about Canada’s leadership. “That’s not even a question. It’s just how it should be. He’s Sidney Crosby and he’s been there so many times and he’s the guy. It’s not like I thought about it a lot, it’s just such a no-brainer.”

McDavid, along with Cale Makar, will serve as alternate captains for the tournament, reinforcing a leadership group that blends generational experience with emerging superstars.

Crosby’s ongoing dominance in the NHL

Despite his veteran status, Crosby continues to set records and produce at an elite level. His 1,651 career NHL points place him nearly 500 points ahead of any other active Canadian player. Steven Stamkos, who ranks second among active Canadian players with 1,170 points, was not invited to the 4 Nations tournament.

Crosby is on pace to become the first player in NHL history to achieve 20 consecutive point-per-game seasons, a record he currently shares with Wayne Gretzky at 19. His ability to remain among the league’s top performers more than 17 years after becoming the NHL’s youngest-ever captain is a testament to his skill, longevity, and leadership.

The leadership team: McDavid and Makar

McDavid, who will eventually take over the mantle of Canada’s leader, continues to establish himself as one of the NHL’s greatest players. The Edmonton Oilers captain has 1,048 career points and is once again among the league’s top scorers this season, with 21 goals and 66 points in 44 games.

McDavid has been the Oilers' captain for nine seasons and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023 after leading Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. While he will likely be Canada’s captain in future international tournaments, he fully supported the decision to have Crosby lead the team for the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Cale Makar, at 26, is the youngest member of Canada’s leadership group. A Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, Makar has drawn comparisons to Bobby Orr for his dynamic offensive ability and defensive skill. He played a crucial role in the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Makar was the only defenseman included in Canada’s initial six-player roster announcement last June. With his combination of elite skill and leadership, he is expected to log the most minutes among Canada’s blue-liners during the tournament.

Other leadership candidates and roster depth

Canada has no shortage of players with leadership experience. Several members of the roster wear letters for their NHL teams, including:

Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins captain) – Included in Canada’s initial six-player announcement
Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights captain)
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche alternate captain)
Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues alternate captain)
Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets alternate captain)
Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers alternate captain)

One notable absence from the tournament is Alex Pietrangelo, a Stanley Cup champion and veteran of international play, who withdrew from Team Canada last week due to an injury. Pietrangelo would have been a strong candidate for an alternate captaincy role.

Crosby’s legacy as Canada’s leader

While Crosby may no longer be the NHL’s consensus top player, his leadership and international pedigree make him the clear choice to captain Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He has already led his country to multiple championships and continues to deliver at the highest level, proving that his influence in the sport remains as strong as ever.

With McDavid and Makar by his side, Canada will enter the tournament with a leadership trio that combines experience, generational talent, and elite two-way play. As the 4 Nations Face-Off approaches, all eyes will be on Crosby as he looks to guide Canada to another championship.