Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet sent strong message to Sidney Crosby ahead of 4 Nations Face-Off

Team Canada assistant coach Rick Tocchet had some high praise for captain Sidney Crosby ahead of the 4 Nations Face-Off opener against Elias Pettersson and Sweden.

The eyes of Canadians coast to coast to coast are on Montreal, Quebec, as Team Canada is in its quest for international glory at the 4 Nations Face-Off, with Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet behind the bench as an assistant on Jon Cooper's staff.

Rick Tocchet full of praise for future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby marks his return to the Canadian men's national team at the 4 Nations Face-Off after a nine-year absence, and he's playing a big role both on and off the ice as Canada's captain.

Crosby knows what it takes and has plenty of international experience that will be valuable to younger players on Canada's roster, and he's going to be relied on a lot by Jon Cooper and the rest of the coaching staff throughout the tournament.

In a recent interview, Rick Tocchet was full of praise for Sidney Crosby, someone who he's familiar with from his time behind the bench in Pittsburgh.

Tocchet said that Crosby's hockey IQ is "outstanding" and that despite his age, he still plays a 200-foot game, doesn't cheat and that if he wanted, he could easily continue suiting up in the National Hockey League well into his 40s.

"How many more years is he going to play? He could play into his 40s," Tocchet told Postmedia (h/t The Province). "He takes care of himself, and his hockey I.Q. is outstanding. The one thing people don't understand is that Sid doesn't cheat."

He added, "He plays a 200-foot game. If he really wanted to - and I keep telling people this — Sid could play another five years."

With the "C" on his chest, Sidney Crosby is determined to bring Canada to the top of the hockey world, not only at the 4 Nations Face-Off, but also at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy next year, in what could be his final two appearances for his nation.

In Team Canada's opening win over Team Sweden, Crosby dazzled. He had three assist in the 4-3 overtime win.