Team Canada has made their first picks for the 2022 Olympics team roster, according to the GM Doug Armstrong. Not surprisingly, their picks were Connor McDavid, Alex Pietrangelo, and Sidney Crosby. This will be the first time for Connor McDavid, the second time for Alex Pietrangelo, and the third time Sidney Crosby will be appearing on the international hockey stage.
Crosby and McDavid are obvious choices, but Alex Pietrangelo is a bit of a surprise to be picked first. Would it have made more sense to choose Cale Makar or Seth Jones? Maybe. But Doug Armstrong has a history with Pietrangelo, being the Blues GM since 2010, where Pietrangelo played before signing with the Vegas Golden Knights.
According to Sportsnet:
"“He’s a great 200-foot player,” Armstrong said. “He was paired as a shutdown player (in 2014 and 2016) and he did a great job at that, but he’s a 200-foot player and his game has evolved even since 2016. The last six years, to me, he’s just one of the top defenders in the league. … What you’re trying to do is build a team and we’ll start with 200-foot players and I think Petro’s a great example of that.”"
The other question these picks raise is the captaincy of the team. Obviously, Sidney Crosby is the choice that makes the most sense. He was the assistant captain in 2010 and captained the team in 2014. He’s made the biggest impact on the world stage out of the three and honestly out of who is projected to be on the team. It’s likely that Armstrong will choose him to captain Team Canada, however, it’s always possible that Armstrong will want a younger blooded captain.
Connor McDavid is also a great choice for captain, being the youngest captain in NHL history and having his own list of accomplishments on the international stage. In the end, it will come down to how Armstrong wants his team to be led. If he wants experience and a veteran approach to the team, Crosby is the obvious choice. If he wants a younger outlook and the vigorousness of a young captain, McDavid might be the better choice.
I can’t wait to see how this team shakes out. Who are your must-haves on Team Canada? Leave a comment below!