You'd Think Sidney Crosby Would Be Too Old (And Too Tired) To Represent Canada At Worlds
Sidney Crosby should be too old for all this.
Too tired. Too sore. And frankly, too good to be playing in a tournament that many other NHLers couldn't care less about.
After a condensed NHL season where he went to the Olympics, got injured and then came back and led the Pittsburgh Penguins to an unlikely playoff appearance, you'd expect the 38-year-old to be physically exhausted and mentally drained from all the hockey he's played. He should be booking a trip to some resort where he can take a break. At the very least, he should be putting his equipment away for the summer.
Instead, Crosby is heading to Switzerland to once again represent Canada at the World Championship, which begins on May 15.
Team Canada Announces Roster For 2026 World Championships
Led by a powerhouse management group, 23 elite players head to Switzerland to chase gold and extend Canada's historic dominance on the international hockey stage.
Again, we shouldn't be surprised.
In addition to the three Stanley Cups he has won with the Penguins, Crosby has also won two Olympic gold medals, as well as gold at the World Junior Championship, World Championship, World Cup and the 4 Nations Face-Off. Really, Crosby has done it all and achieved it all. But clearly he's not done just yet.
Crosby will get a chance at another gold medal at the World Championship, where he will be joining a stacked Canadian team that is captained by Macklin Celebrini (let's see if the 19-year-old gives up his 'C' to Crosby) and includes Philadelphia's Porter Martone, John Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly.
Canada was considered to be the favorite. It certainly is now that Crosby has joined the team.
The Penguins captain might not be the same player who last won the Hart Trophy 12 years ago, but he is still one of the NHL's best.
This season, Crosby led the Penguins with 29 goals and 74 points in 68 games. It was his 21st season where he averaged at least a point per game, and it moved him up to seventh place on the NHL's all-time scoring list (1,761).
It was a long season, made even longer because of the Olympics.
In Hindsight, Maybe A Less-Than-Healthy Sidney Crosby Should Have Chosen To Play
Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby said he decided against playing in the gold medal game due to his injury. But he added if he could play, then he would've been out there.
It was at the Olympics where Crosby had six points in four games before a knee-on-knee hit from Czechia's Radko Gudas in the quarterfinal knocked the Team Canada captain from the tournament. It was a massive blow - not only to Crosby, but to the entire team. Without their captain and second-line center, Canada still advanced to the final, but ended up losing in overtime to the U.S. in the gold medal game.
You have to think that things might have ended differently had Crosby been able to play. It certainly must have left a bitter taste in Crosby's mouth as he watched the outcome of the game from the dressing room. Perhaps that is why he wanted to put on the Canadian jersey once more.
It's only the World Championship. But who knows, it might be the last time he gets to represent Canada.
However, knowing Crosby's history of showing up for international events, don't count on it.
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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 12:11 PM.