League source confirms one big roadblock in Sidney Crosby's return to Team Canada amid injury battle
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Hunter Bowman
Feb 19, 2026 (10:20)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The collective heart rate of an entire nation just dropped back to normal. Sidney Crosby isn't done yet, and the gold medal dream is still breathing.
Pierre LeBrun dropped the massive update today. He isn't done, and Crosby himself is doing everything he can to be back for the semi-finals on Friday.
“A league source told The Athletic that Crosby is doing all that he can in an attempt to play again in this tournament but it’s not clear if that will be possible.”
Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper completely refused to write the obituary. "Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament," Cooper firmly stated Thursday morning.
The medical staff is working absolute overtime behind closed doors in Milan. They have exactly 24 hours to figure out if the 38-year-old can actually lace them up for the crucial semi-final war.
Head coach Jon Cooper stops the panic surrounding Team Canada
The entire hockey world is watching the clock tick down.
Crosby is shooting an absurd 20.5% right now against the best goalies in the world. He wins 53% of his draws in the dirty areas, dominating the exact zones where sudden-death elimination games are won and lost.
But Cooper made one thing absolutely clear to the massive media scrum. They won't risk his future. "We’re not going to put anyone in harm’s way," he confirmed.
“Sid is by no means ruled out of the tournament,’’ Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper said Thursday. “We’ve got the best of the best looking at him. … We’re taking this day by day. And we’re not going to put anyone in harm’s way. But if he can play, he’s definitely going to. We’ll know more again in 24 hours.’’
If Crosby rushes back for Canada and aggravates the injury, the Penguins miss the playoffs. But this is the Winter Olympics and it's clear every player wants to stay to stay in this.
If he can stand on two skates, he plays. Are you really going to bet against the captain putting the team on his back one last time?
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