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Sidney Crosby's Agent Confirms Nathan MacKinnon's Hockey Canada Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated May 5, 2025 6:17 AM ET

The Colorado Avalanche were eliminated in seven games by the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, bringing an abrupt end to another productive season for forward Nathan MacKinnon.

MacKinnon finished the regular season with 116 points in 79 games, ranking second in the league but failing to earn a Hart Trophy nomination as the NHL's Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season.

The Avs forward followed the regular season with 11 points and seven goals in seven playoff games, despite the Avalanche falling short in the opening round.

Within days of exiting the postseason, Colorado's star attention has shifted to international play, with agent Pat Brisson confirming to The Athletic that MacKinnon would join Team Canada for the upcoming IIHF World Championship.

In fact…Can confirm that Nathan MacKinnon is joining Sidney Crosby and Team Canada at the World Championships in Sweden. https://t.co/rUylqmfMMU
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) May 4, 2025

"Crosby was added to Team Canada’s roster for the upcoming tournament late Sunday," The Athletic reported. "MacKinnon will also play for Canada, agent Pat Brisson told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. Brisson represents Crosby and MacKinnon."

The 2022 Stanley Cup champion last appeared at the IIHF World Championship in 2017, where he tallied 15 points in 10 games. Before that, MacKinnon played at the 2014 and 2015 World Championships and the 2016 World Cup as part of Team North America.

MacKinnon also featured for Canada earlier this year in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he scored four goals in four games and earned MVP honors.

MacKinnon, who scored just 31 seconds into the final period to double Colorado’s lead before the Stars pulled off a comeback in Game 7, was in shock right after the Avs' first-round defeat.

“It’s pretty shocking,” MacKinnon said. “Felt like we were in total control, then Mikko (Rantanen) ... credit to him, he made some amazing plays. He was the difference-maker, took over. Yeah, I don't know. I'm in shock, to be honest.”

Canada's World Championship team will be coached by Dean Evason and managed by Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, who will also have Sidney Crosby playing for the nation in Sweden and Denmark.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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