Crosby vs. Toews: Who should captain Canada at the World Cup of Hockey?

Sidney Crosby is mired in his worst statistical season in recent memory, while Jonathan Toews defends another Stanley Cup victory. With the World Cup of Hockey approaching, Canadian hockey fans are wondering:

Who should captain Canada at the World Cup of Hockey - Sidney Crosby or Jonathan Toews?

Ian McLaren: Toews is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, and the NHL's reigning Mark Messier Leadership Award winner. He's done more than enough to deserve the "C" for Canada at the World Cup.

Gino Bottero: Toews is a terrific captain for the Blackhawks, and there's no denying his leadership skills, but Crosby's held serve as captain of Team Canada and deserves to continue to carry that mantle after leading a dominant Olympic offering in 2014.

McLaren: Toews has made six appearances for Canada at the international level, and has brought home five gold medals and one silver. Sure, Crosby captained his country to a gold at the 2015 World Championship, but that was while Toews was busy winning another Cup.

Bottero: Let's not discount Crosby's gold medal-winning goal in 2010. He's also the unrivaled best player in hockey at the moment. Making Toews the captain means stripping Crosby of the "C," and no one in Hockey Canada wants to be the one to pass that message along.

McLaren: Crosby is in the midst of the worst statistical season of his career. He's served Canada well and no one will soon forget the golden goal, but it would be better for him and the team if he participates in the World Cup without the added pressure of being designated as the leader.

Bottero: Crosby won't be playing with guys like Beau Bennett, Patric Hornqvist, or Chris Kunitz (at least, hopefully not) on a loaded top line for Team Canada. He'll be the guy the offense runs through. Crosby has goals in each of the gold-medal games he's played in.

McLaren: For those who see Crosby as Captain Canada and the unquestioned best player in the world, the reality is that the World Cup's a step below the Olympics. To deny Crosby the "C" and bestow it on Toews would be to acknowledge the latter's body of work while keeping the former out of the spotlight until PyeongChang.

Bottero: There's no hiding in Canadian hockey. Take the captaincy away from Crosby and the media frenzy that would ensue would be ferocious. At 28 years of age, Crosby's in the prime of his career, and as long as he keeps leading his country to gold, the "C" should remain firmly planted on his chest.

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