Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Alex Pietrangelo named to Canada’s Olympic roster

Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Alex Pietrangelo were named to Canada's initial roster for the 2022 Olympics on Monday, general manager Doug Armstrong announced.

Crosby, the two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time Stanley Cup champion, headed the list of three players named to the initial Canadian roster as required by the International Ice Hockey Federation in advance of the 2022 Beijing Games, which will be held in February. Crosby captained Canada to Olympic gold in Sochi in 2014, the last time NHL players participated in the event.

McDavid, the Oilers captain and two-time Hart Trophy winner, will be making his first Olympic appearance for Canada. Pietrangelo, the Golden Knights defenseman and 2019 Cup winner with the Blues, was on the 2014 team with Crosby.

(Photo: Martin Rose / Getty Images)

Is this likely to be Crosby's last Olympics?

Rob Rossi, Penguins beat writer: Crosby has never said he plans to play beyond his current contract with the Penguins. After this season, he'll have three years remaining.

Despite his passion for hockey, Crosby's awareness of his own capabilities seems to suggest he won't be one of those athletes to hang around unless he can contribute at a high level. So, these upcoming Games will probably be the last to watch arguably North America's most dominant team-sport Winter Olympian.

Assuming he's named captain again, Crosby will lead a Canadian squad favored to win its third Olympics gold in three Games with Crosby on the roster. If Canada is golden again, Crosby will have captained two and delivered the golden goal for another. A student of history, Crosby surely would recognize such an exit from the international stage would be tough to top.

The significance of the Olympics for McDavid

Daniel Nugent-Bowman, Oilers beat writer: McDavid has made no secret about wanting to play in the Olympics. His early inclusion on the Canadian roster comes as no surprise, despite his previous attempts at modesty when he said he hoped to make the team.

The Olympics, when best on best, remain hockey's golden standard for international competition. To have the game's greatest player and marquee star, in the prime of his career, couldn't be a better situation for the sport — and for McDavid himself. Aside from two World Championship appearances, the last time he played for Team Canada in anything close to a best-on-best event was the 2015 World Juniors.

Which players will make for Canada's toughest roster decisions?

Eric Duhatschek, senior hockey writer: Canada is so deep in position players that there will be really no wrong choices, no matter who they select to play forward or defense. But sorting out the goaltenders can be problematic.

The two best candidates may well be two of the oldest — Montreal's Carey Price and Chicago's Marc-André Fleury. Price needs to be healthy and Fleury needs to start the new season the way he played last year. Most of the youngsters who were thought to be in the running (Carter Hart, Philadelphia; MacKenzie Blackwood, New Jersey) are coming off poor seasons. Getting the goalie mix correct could easily be the single biggest key to winning gold.

Canada is so deep in position players that there will be really no wrong choices, no matter who they select to play forward or defense. But sorting out the goaltenders can be problematic. The two best candidates may well be two of the oldest – Montreal’s Carey Price and Chicago’s Marc-Andre Fleury. Price needs to be healthy; and Fleury needs to start the new season the way he played last year. Most of the youngsters who were thought to be in the running (Carter Hart, Philadelphia; MacKenzie Blackwood, New Jersey) are coming off poor seasons. Getting the goalie mix correct could easily be the single biggest key to winning gold.