Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Sidney Crosby (87) skates in the warmup period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game against Team United States at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Penguins’ Sidney Crosby Cherishing Possible Final Olympic Run

Originally posted on Breakaway on SI | By Jacob Punturi | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Penguins are off to a strong start to the 2025-2026 season. The team is unexpectedly competitive in the Metropolitan Division, and it’s providing early optimism that they could return to the postseason after a three-season absence.

For Penguins captain and superstar Sidney Crosby, this season represents perhaps a final chance. Both in the NHL, as the Pens try to maintain their status in the Eastern Conference, and on the international stage. Crosby will lead his home country of Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, taking place in Italy, in what could be his final Olympic appearance.

Cherish the Moment

He hasn’t made it known how much longer he will play, but the 38-year-old Crosby is cherishing the opportunity in front of him. In a recent interview with RG, Crosby shared how their NHL’s absence from previous winter games made him wonder if he would ever get the chance to represent his country again.

“Just having the chance to do it again,” he said. “With the couple (Olympics) that we missed, I didn’t know if we were going to go back or if it was going to take time. Those ones that felt like they were going to happen and they didn’t, almost at the last minute, so I tried not to get my hopes up too much.”

Captain Canada

Crosby has had an incredible run with Team Canada over his playing career. Spanning a gold medal at the World Junior Championships, to multiple gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games, to leading Canada to the win at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, Crosby has accomplished everything and then some at the international level.

Still, the future Hall of Famer is motivated, maybe more than ever, to lead Canada to another gold medal. Canada is coming off a surprising upset in the 2025 IIHF World Championships, losing in the quarterfinals to Denmark. Crosby was the captain of that team, also.

It was a shocking loss, and Canada is looking to exact some revenge when the 2026 Winter Olympics commence. The Crosby-led Canadians are the betting favorite heading into the tournament, but contenders like the United States, Sweden, Czechia and even Finland (the 2022 gold medalist) have a shot to knock Canada off their perch.

That all begins with the leadership of Sidney Crosby in what will likely be his final appearance for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics.

This article first appeared on Breakaway on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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