Report: Crosby Asked Toews if it was Okay to Captain Canada
Jan 7, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby (87) during the warm up against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 5-4 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
According to Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit Red Wings’ head coach Mike Babcock said that Pittsburgh Penguins’ forward Sidney Crosby spoke with Chicago Blackhawks’ forward Jonathan Toews to make sure it was okay for him to captain Team Canada in the upcoming Winter Games.
Babcock says Crosby wanted to make sure Toews was OK with being an alternate captain for Canada since he has more Cups, etc. #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 22, 2014
It was made official that Crosby would serve as Canada’s captain, while Toews will be an alternate captain.
Here’s what Toews had to said – per Lazerus:
"“I think everyone knows that Sidney was the guy. I’m just honored to have been in the conversation.”"
It was a very respectful, and honorable gesture by Crosby to discuss the potential captaincy with Toews. The two have a mutual respect for one another’s game, and both are going to be focal leaders this February for Team Canada.
Toews has won two Stanley Cups, and led the Canadian team in scoring (eight points) at the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Due to those numbers, Toews was awarded the tournament’s Best Forward.
So to say that Toews wasn’t close to being the captain would be erroneous.