Sidney Crosby drops major statement about 2026 Milan Olympics being his last with Team Canada

Sidney Crosby will easily be one of the biggest Canadian names at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Pittsburgh Penguins captain is also expected to lead Team Canada, as NHL players make their return to the multi-sport event after a 12-year absence.

Speaking to CBC Sports on Tuesday, after his announcement as one of Lulumelon's Team Canada Ambassadors for the Games, host Ariel Helwani questioned the two-time Hart Trophy winner if he'd like to take up the flag bearer duties for the entire Canadian contingent in Italy. Crosby had a very humble response.

"I think there's so many people that could easily do that," Crosby said. (18:05) "That'd be an honor. There's lots of people that deserve that. I'm thrilled to be going to the Olympics. I thought after missing a couple that I wouldn't even have the opportunity. So, whatever role I need to have, I'll accept it, and it'll be cool."

Helwani also quizzed Crosby on whether the 2026 Olympics would be his last. The 38-year-old felt positive about featuring in future international tournaments.

"Oh, that's a tough one," Crosby paused after saying. (19:45) "I hope it's not, but if it is, I hope that I can make the most of this great opportunity. But who knows? Who knows? I want to play as long as I can."

When the 2030 Olympics, set to be held in the French Alps, come around, Crosby will be 42 years young. But if his current season's stats are any indication, he is showing no signs of slowing down. In 19 games, he has 21 points, including 12 goals for the Penguins.

Sidney Crosby makes feelings known about iconic "Golden Goal" from 2010 Winter Olympics

Crosby, on Tuesday, also opened up about his famous golden goal in overtime in the final of the 2010 Winter Olympics men's tournament at home in Vancouver. "Sid the Kid" acknowledged dreaming of that very moment.

“It’s really high up there,” said Crosby while speaking to TSN. “That was a pretty amazing experience with it being in Canada. I think it was the final event of the Olympics, for it to come down to that and to find a way to score that goal, it was awesome. It was something that you dream of as a kid. So, yeah, that’s high up there.”

Crosby followed up that 2010 gold medal with another in Sochi, four years later. He added another international silverware with a gold medal at the 2016 IIHF World Cup, before captaining the team to victory at the Four Nations Face Off in February this year.