Jon Cooper really went after depth when he crafted the lineups for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. While social media erupted with debates, and many chimed in with their views on the lines, Cooper’s experiments have been quite successful so far. While there is no guarantee lineups won’t change, Team Canada’s HC has squarely stated that there is one line he intends to leave exactly as it is throughout Canada’s Olympic campaign.
Jon Cooper Intends to Leave Sidney Crosby’s Line at the Milano-Cortina Olympics Undisturbed
Team Canada’s 10-2 victory over France was cinematic, a brazen display of might, and a conviction so powerful that it once again made it abundantly clear that Crosby is dead serious about his aspirations for a third Olympic gold.
NHL players have had the opportunity to play on the Olympic stage after more than a decade, and they have seized it with remarkable fierceness.
The match against France witnessed multiple players get on the scoreboard. Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid each had three points, while 19-year-old Celebrini, who already has endless success stories to his credit, created history by becoming the first player of the NHL to score on a penalty shot at the Olympics.
ALSO READ: Sidney Crosby Races to Team Canada Olympic History, but Connor McDavid Not Too Far Behind
Canada has secured the No. 1 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals with remarkable ease. The team overall is in phenomenal form, but for Cooper, if there is one line that stands out, it’s the Mark Stone-Sidney Crosby-Mitch Marner line.
While there is no guarantee lines won’t change, in fact, it is pretty standard for changes to take place as the tournament unfolds, Cooper has categorically stated that he won’t break up the third line.
“Jon Cooper on Stone – Crosby – Marner, the one Team Canada line that has not been tweaked: ‘The line’s been really good. They’re checking a lot of boxes. Smart players. There’s just a calmness about that line. And I’m not breaking them up,” Cooper stated, as shared by Sportsnet’s Luke Fox on X.
Jon Cooper on Stone – Crosby – Marner, the one Team Canada line that has not been tweaked:
“The line’s been really good. They’re checking a lot of boxes. Smart players. There’s just a calmness about that line. And I’m not breaking them up.”
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) February 17, 2026
Crosby as 3C is the prime example of Cooper’s focus on depth. The team’s captain is a seasoned Olympian who is adamant about repeating history.
Crosby played a significant role in securing Canada’s gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics by scoring the overtime goal. He was also a part of the winning roster at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Years later, he is back to finish unfinished business.
Crosby brings an unparalleled leadership to the table that can play an instrumental role in Team Canada’s success at Milano-Cortina. With the quarterfinals imminent, the stakes are higher than ever. Whether Team Canada can keep up its winning ways remains to be seen.
