Crosby, McDavid-led forwards: Canada’s Olympic superpower

Almost a dozen years have passed since an Olympic gold medal was placed around Sidney Crosby’s neck.

Following his decisive “Golden Goal” in 2010 and subsequently leading his national team to victory once more in 2014, it appeared that the athletic prowess of the Cole Harbour, N.S. sensation on the Olympic platform was just commencing.

However, these prospects vanished abruptly. National Hockey League athletes were absent from the 2018 Olympics owing to disagreements between the league and the International Ice Hockey Federation, primarily concerning financial responsibility. Subsequently, a worldwide health crisis thwarted the NHL’s planned participation in Beijing in 2022.

Presently, at the age of 38, Crosby is making his return to the pinnacle of global competition, driven by the desire for another championship achievement. His captaincy of this squad in Italy is widely anticipated.

“Being unable to participate and uncertain of future prospects, then finally learning of our return, serves as its own inspiration,” Crosby revealed in a private discussion with CBC Olympics presenter Ariel Helwani earlier this year. “That sentiment occupies my thoughts predominantly. The focus is simply to fully capitalize on this current chance.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ three-time Stanley Cup victor will be accompanied by two prominent figures who have excelled in the NHL for a considerable period but have yet to participate in the Olympic Games: Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid.

Together, they constitute an offensive lineup expected to be Canada’s primary asset when the squad commences its initial match on February 12th.

Similar to his fellow Nova Scotian, MacKinnon has secured the Cup. McDavid, however, has not. He has approached victory captivatingly close during the last two seasons, yet fallen short of success.

The decisive overtime goal at the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier in the current year could represent the most significant scoring play of McDavid’s career thus far. Securing an Olympic gold would solidify his enduring impact in hockey, and at last, he will possess the occasion to achieve this.

“Athletes of his caliber thrive under such intensity and aspire to be in those situations,” stated Jeff Marek, presenter of The Sheet with Jeff Marek podcast on The Nation Network, during an appearance on CBC Sports’ Hockey North on Wednesday.

Although McDavid netted the winning goal against the United States at the 4 Nations tournament, Macklin Celebrini was observing from home. That will not be the case this time. Celebrini is set to journey to Italy.

The teenage standout from the San Jose Sharks was merely three years old when Crosby achieved his pivotal goal in 2010. In Milan, it is conceivable they could play on the same line.

Celebrini secured his position on this roster by the beginning of December, at which point the Canadian leadership committee identified a dozen forwards as definite selections. General Manager Doug Armstrong personally conveyed this information to Celebrini on Wednesday morning.

This represented a complete cyclical event from the previous season, when Armstrong encountered Celebrini early in his inaugural year prior to a match versus Armstrong’s St. Louis Blues. Celebrini was not then considered for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but remained a candidate for the Olympics, as the General Manager informed him.

On that evening, the adolescent delivered a performance featuring multiple points. A clear declaration was made.

“Macklin’s capability will be to initiate the learning journey simultaneously with competitive play,” Armstrong stated in a discussion with CBC Sports.

Canadian Leadership Prioritizes Adaptability

Absent from the team lineup is Connor Bedard, the promising Chicago talent who enjoyed an exceptional season prior to sustaining an apparent shoulder ailment that removed him from play in early December.

Bedard came “exceedingly close” to securing a spot on the squad, remaining under consideration until the final decisions were made.

However, the leadership committee leaned towards selecting athletes who specialize in defined responsibilities. This entailed choosing the penalty-killing proficiency of Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli instead of the decisive talent of a player like Bedard, a choice that might cause problems for Canada if goal-scoring proves challenging in Italy.

Athletes demonstrating flexibility, such as Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki and the towering six-foot-four Tom Wilson, also possessed an advantage. The physically imposing Wilson, currently on track for a personal best season in terms of goals and total points with the Washington Capitals, might have earned his place on the squad, potentially at the cost of the previous Conn Smythe trophy recipient, Sam Bennett.

“While the nature of the sport evolves and skill thresholds shift, the locations from which goals are typically scored remain largely consistent,” Armstrong commented regarding elite hockey competition. “These are the difficult, contested zones near the crease, and few players embrace venturing into them with as much enthusiasm as Tom Wilson.”

Adaptability similarly secured a position for New York Islanders’ forward Bo Horvat on the roster. Highly skilled at faceoffs, he possesses the capability to perform across various lines. He is anticipated to serve as a versatile asset for head coach Jon Cooper.

“Whatever tasks I am assigned, I will execute them,” Horvat stated on Wednesday. “Even if it involves sanitizing water bottles, I am willing to do whatever it takes to be present.”

Binnington Leads Goaltending Group Amidst Uncertainties

Although some new offensive players were included who were not part of the 4 Nations winning team, Hockey Canada chose to retain all eight defensive players who participated in that competition.

Among these was Drew Doughty, who will stand alongside Crosby as the sole Olympic medalist within this squad. In addition to his on-ice contributions, the two-time Stanley Cup winner imparts experienced leadership and an understanding of the requirements for triumph at the elite echelon.

“He possesses a strong desire for another victory,” Armstrong noted. “His enthusiasm is openly displayed and resonates positively with everyone.”

This defensive unit is well-known to Cooper and his team, featuring the premier defensive duo in the NHL from recent years: Devon Toews and Cale Makar.

A potential vulnerability in Canada’s defensive structure could emerge during power plays, especially if Makar were to be sidelined due to illness or injury. Evan Bouchard, Jakob Chychrun, and the notable newcomer Matthew Schaefer were not selected, and could have provided additional depth to support Makar.

However, the more substantial apprehension lies within the netminding position. Should the offensive unit be Canada’s preeminent strength, then its goaltending might represent its Achilles’ heel.

Canada has Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson, and Darcy Kuemper prepared. Each of the trio has secured Stanley Cups, with Thompson and Kuemper ranking among the NHL’s top goaltenders this current season.

Binnington performed dependably for Canada during a tense 4 Nations Face-Off overtime triumph against the United States, a factor that influenced Armstrong and his personnel, notwithstanding a challenging season in St. Louis.

The era of Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur, and Carey Price, who were undeniable game-changers in goal, netminders free of uncertainties, has passed.

Armstrong acknowledges the argument that Canada’s vulnerability is in its goaltending, yet he expresses confidence in the goalies chosen to represent the nation.

“I believe its strength surpasses the recognition it typically receives,” the General Manager stated.

Canada will commence the competition facing the Czech Republic on February 12th at 10:40 a.m. Eastern Time.

The championship final for the gold medal is scheduled for February 22nd.