Penguins star Sidney Crosby to captain Canada at 4 Nations Face-Off tournament

Sidney Crosby is back in a familiar spot, as Canada's captain.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star was named to the role Thursday for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next month in Montreal and Boston.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist wore the 'C' at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, when he helped his country secure its second consecutive podium-topping finish.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to again represent Canada on the international stage," Crosby said in a news release. "It is an honour to be named captain for the 4 Nations Face-Off on a team with so many great leaders.

"All of us are excited to wear the Team Canada jersey and to kick off the 4 Nations Face-Off in front of Canadian fans."

Crosby, who scored a memorable overtime winner against the United States in the 2010 Olympic final in Vancouver, also captained his country at the 2016 World Cup.

Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar will serve as Canada's alternate captains at the 4 Nations.

Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Auston Matthews was named U.S. captain earlier Thursday. Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman was tabbed to lead Sweden, while Florida Panthers centre Aleksander Barkov got the honours for Finland.

The 4 Nations, which marks the return of NHL players to high-profile international competition, represents the closest hockey has seen to a best-on-best men's tournament since the 2016 World Cup.

The round-robin event is set to run Feb. 12-20 at Montreal's Bell Centre and Boston's TD Garden. Russia is banned due to its ongoing war in Ukraine, while reigning world champion Czechia is also on the outside.

No NHLers at 2018, 2022 Olympics

The tournament is expected to serve as an appetizer ahead of the NHL's Olympic return in 2026. The league went to five straight Games between 1998 and 2014, but skipped 2018 for financial reasons before the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled plans in 2022.

Crosby has 608 goals and 1,651 points in 1,325 regular-season NHL games. The Pengiuns captain has added 71 goals and 201 points in 180 playoff contests.

The 37-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., leads Pittsburgh with 55 points (16 goals, 39 assists) across 53 games in 2024-25.

Crosby, who captured gold for Canada at the 2005 world junior hockey championship and again a decade later at the men's world championship, is a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, a two-time winner of the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy as the league's top goal-scorer, and a two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoff MVP.

The No. 1 pick at the 2005 draft also captured the Ted Lindsay Award as the league MVP voted on by the NHL Players' Association membership on three occasions.

Matthews, in his first year as Leafs captain, has secured the Maurice (Rocket) Richard Trophy three times, including last season's eye-popping 69-goal campaign. The top selection at the 2016 draft also took home the Hart and Lindsay in 2021-22.

Florida Panthers winger Matthew Tkachuk and Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy will serve as alternate captains for the Americans.

Matthews has 388 goals and 299 assists for 687 points across 598 regular-season games. He's added 48 points (23-25) in 55 playoff contests.

The Scottsdale, Ariz., product, who missed a combined 15 games earlier in the schedule with an upper-body injury that saw him travel to Germany for treatment, has registered 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 36 games this season.

Matthews won bronze for the U.S. at the 2016 world juniors. He also suited up for his country at the 2016 men's worlds.

The superstar centre then joined the likes of McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Jack Eichel on the 23-and-under Team North America at the 2016 World Cup.

Heiskanen won't play for Finland after Stone hit

Dallas Stars defenceman Miro Heiskanen is week to week with a lower-body injury sustained on a big hit from Vegas captain Mark Stone, and the standout from Finland won't play in the Nations Face-Off.

Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said Thursday that Heiskanen had an MRI and was planning to see a specialist for more information on the prognosis.

"This is really sad news, first and foremost for Miro himself, but of course also for the Finnish 4 Nations Face-Off team and Dallas," Finland bench boss Antti Pennanen said. "We don't know the details of the injury yet, but we hope that Miro will be back in playing condition as soon as possible."

Heiskanen's absence means a new player will be selected to the Finnish team. Finland general manager Jere Lehtinen didn't say when that would be.

Heiskanen was injured in the third period of the Stars' 4-3 overtime victory over Vegas on Tuesday after taking the hit from Stone, who fell toward Heiskanen's left knee and thigh after getting tripped. Stone hasn't been fined or suspended.

Stone, who was penalized for tripping, said he wasn't trying to injure Heiskanen. DeBoer, who coached Stone in Vegas, said he didn't think Stone was a dirty player but questioned why officials didn't review the play for a five-minute major penalty. There was a brief clash between the teams while Heiskanen was sprawled on the ice.

A lengthy absence for Heiskanen will be a setback for the Stars, who have reached the Western Conference Final each of the past two seasons. Dallas is second in the Central Division, with Colorado and Minnesota close behind.