Team Canada: Captain Crosby Surprised by St. Louis Snub

Just because Sidney Crosby is the captain of Team Canada’s men’s hockey team doesn’t mean he didn’t raise an eyebrow when Martin St. Louis was left off the team roster for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

Crosby, who was named Team Canada captain last weekend, recently told reporters he expected the reigning Art Ross Trophy winner to be named to the squad by Steve Yzerman. Considering Yzerman is also St. Louis’ general manager with the Tampa Bay Lightning, many figured St. Louis would get a chance to represent Canada at the Olympics for the last time in his career.

However, that’s not how it went down. Yzerman personally called St. Louis to inform him that he hadn’t made the squad.

“I mean, he was right there,” Crosby told the Tampa Bay Times of St. Louis’ omission. “I don’t think any of us could have exactly picked the team, there’s so many tight decisions and tough ones. But, yeah, definitely he was a guy that I was thinking was going to be there.”

Understandably so, too. After leading the NHL in scoring last season, the 38-year-old St. Louis sits fourth in the league with 25 goals and has 50 points in 50 games.

“As nice and as much of a luxury it is to have so many great players, it was probably pretty difficult to not pick some guys, especially with Marty being in Tampa and (Steve Yzerman) being the (general manager) there,” Crosby added. “I don’t think there’s ever an easy way to do it, but I don’t think it was a lack of success on Marty’s part. He’s done everything I think he could to be in that position.”

That’s been pretty evident over the past couple of months. St. Louis has carried the Lightning since Steven Stamkos broke his leg and is coming off a four-goal effort last weekend against the San Jose Sharks, considered one of the Western Conference’s elite teams.

“He’s done a hell of a job for us under what I would consider some tough circumstances,” Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper told reporters of his captain. “He really wanted to make that (Olympic) team.”

Still, Stamkos won’t attribute his hot streak to the Olympic snub and won’t even comment on the Olympics at this point. Really, what can he say?

 Team Canada has moved to the +146 favorite to win the gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.