Report: Penguins' Sidney Crosby Will Get Shot at World Championship
If the Pittsburgh Penguins miss out on the postseason, Sidney Crosby may jump to Team Canada.
PITTSBURGH – As the NHL season dies down, players have started to be approached by their home countries to participate in the annual IIHF World Championship, and the Pittsburgh Penguins captain might be getting a call. Team Canada is expected to have a team full of youthful talent, but Sidney Crosby could be around to captain some of the sport’s brightest young stars.
According to Pierre LeBrun on TSN’s Insider Trading, Team Canada’s newly appointed general manager, Rick Nash, has already contacted young stars Mason McTavish and Connor Bedard. LeBrun expects Nash to call Crosby once the Penguins’ season wraps up.
“Wouldn’t it be amazing if Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard were teammates at a Men’s Worlds?” LeBrun said. “Yes, it’s Team Canada’s plan to reach out to number 87 if and when the Penguins get eliminated.”
While it may be a while before anyone learns of Crosby’s international commitment, LeBrun believes Bedard will be on board to represent Team Canada.
If Crosby accepts the invitation, it will be his first IIHF World Championship since 2015, when he helped lead Team Canada to its 25th gold medal. Crosby scored 11 points in nine games.
By taking gold in 2015, Crosby secured his spot as the 26th member of hockey’s Triple Gold Club. Reaching this group means a single player has won an IIHF gold medal, an Olympic gold medal, and the Stanley Cup.
Multiple Penguins represented their countries in last year’s tournament, including Drew O’Connor for Team USA and P.O. Joseph, who won a gold medal with Team Canada.
The 2024 Tournament will take place in Czechia between May 10-26.
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