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Sidney Crosby sits out for Team Canada, Doug Armstrong says he stepped aside after meeting doctors
Photo credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Sidney Crosby is not playing for Team Canada in Milano Cortina 2026, and the Olympic gold game suddenly feels heavier.
Doug Armstrong went on CBC and laid it out in plain words.
He said Crosby met with the coach and doctors for about 45 minutes.
Armstrong said Crosby felt it was best for the team to give the opportunity to someone else.
That is the part that sticks, Crosby did not think he could be at his best.
"Met with coach and doctors for about 45 minutes... end of the day he felt it was best for the team that he should give that opportunity to someone else... obviously a very gut wrenching decision for him, but it shows the character he has of stepping aside because he didn't think he could be at his best, to give us an opportunity."
- Doug Armstrong
- Doug Armstrong
Armstrong called it gut wrenching, and you could hear why.
Crosby is dealing with a right knee injury from the quarterfinal, and Canada is not dressing passengers in a one game final.
This is leadership with zero romance, and it stings because it is honest.
Sidney Crosby makes Team Canada earn its edge
Canadian fans can respect it and still feel sick about it, both things can be true.
On the ice, the biggest loss is the “calm shift,” the one that kills momentum after a bad bounce.
Faceoffs tighten up too, because Crosby is usually the safety valve when a game turns messy.
Connor McDavid wears the “C,” and the bench will follow, but the tone changes without Crosby’s voice between whistles.
The man advantage also loses that quick, low risk touch that keeps a play alive under pressure.
Back in the NHL, Crosby has 27-32-59 this season, so this is not about decline.
Now Team Canada has to win gold without its heartbeat, and that is a brutal way to find out what the room is made of.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
Team USA captain Auston Matthews discusses his opinion on Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby
Team USA captain Auston Matthews discusses his opinion on Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby