McDavid eager to play with 'idol' Crosby at Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
Oilers captain to compete in tournament for 1st time; Penguins legend scored Golden Goal for Canada in 2010
© Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
By Derek Van Diest
@DerekVanDiest (https://www.x.com/DerekVanDiest) NHL.com Staff Writer
January 23, 2026
EDMONTON -- Connor McDavid is thrilled that he won't have to face Sidney Crosby for the rest of the regular season. Now, the Edmonton Oilers captain can focus on the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where he'll get to play alongside the Pittsburgh Penguins captain for Team Canada.
"It's a nice change of pace to discuss playing together rather than always competing against each other," McDavid said before Pittsburgh's 6-2 win over Edmonton at Rogers Place on Thursday. "The Olympics is the world's biggest sporting event, and to represent our country and be part of something bigger than our sport is special. Being on Team Canada is an honor."
McDavid, 29, has been a rising star in the NHL for almost a decade. He got his first chance to play with Crosby for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, mirroring Crosby's Golden Goal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. McDavid scored the overtime goal in the championship game against the United States, just like Crosby did in 2010.
"It's going to be a lot better than playing against him," Crosby said. "Connor is so dangerous for many reasons, and I had a great time playing with him at 4 Nations. Everyone is excited to be back at the Olympics, and I'm looking forward to this opportunity."
Despite their friendly rivalry, McDavid and Crosby played their 17th NHL game against each other on Thursday. Crosby scored and was plus-2 in the Penguins' win, while McDavid was held without a point and was minus-2. Crosby now has 12 points (five goals, seven assists) when facing McDavid, who has 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists).
At 38, Crosby remains a force to be reckoned with. He leads the Penguins in goals (27), assists (30), and points (57) in 50 games this season. In a recent 4-3 shootout win against the Montreal Canadiens, Crosby surpassed Mario Lemieux for the most points in Pittsburgh's history.
Crosby's performance has helped the Penguins rise to second place in the Metropolitan Division, aiming to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2021-22. McDavid, 29, has also been impressive this season, with 85 points (30 goals, 55 assists) in 52 games, tied with Nathan MacKinnon for the NHL lead. Edmonton, which has lost in the Stanley Cup Final in the past two seasons, is in second place in the Pacific Division.
Before the playoffs, McDavid aims to achieve what Crosby has done twice: win an Olympic gold medal. Both were named to Canada's preliminary Olympic roster on June 16, along with MacKinnon, defenseman Cale Makar, forward Brayden Point, and forward Sam Reinhart. The final roster selection on New Year's Eve sparked debates about line combinations, defense pairs, and goaltending.
McDavid acknowledges the importance of strategic lineup choices. "We want to build a winning team, and with so many great players, any lineup will be strong. However, the tournament is quick, so familiarity with linemates is beneficial. Last year's tournament experience could be an advantage."
Regardless of the lineup, McDavid and Crosby will lead Canada, aiming for their fourth gold medal in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. Canada has previously won gold in Salt Lake City in 2002, Vancouver in 2010, and Sochi in 2014.
"It's very exciting," Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch said. "The Olympics with the best players is long overdue. McDavid, approaching 30, hasn't had an Olympic chance yet. It's unfair to hockey fans who should witness this. Now, we'll see two Hall of Fame players, a decade apart, finally playing together. It's thrilling for many reasons. Sidney has been the NHL's best player for a long time, and Connor has been exceptional. Their Olympic collaboration is truly exciting."
