Canada GM outlines Sidney Crosby’s gut-wrenching decision to give his spot to another player

When Team Canada announced that Sidney Crosby was not going to be dressing for their gold medal game against Team USA, it sent a wave of disappointment and sadness throughout the nation as the team's beloved leader was set to miss potentially his final Olympics.

Though he tried his best to get back on the ice, he felt he would have been a detriment instead of a benefit and decided to sit things out.

One person who no doubt was upset and felt for Crosby was Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong, who clearly had hopes and a vision to keep Sid in the lineup the whole way though.

During the gold medal game's period intermission, Armstrong explained the reasoning behind why Crosby say, but commended his character as he put the team above himself -- which seems pretty par for the course when it comes to Crosby:

Crosby was injured during Canada's quarterfinal game vs. Czechia when defenceman Radko Gudas decided to lay in an open ice hit to Crosby which sent his leg in an awkward position.

After struggling to the bench, he eventually made his way off and left the game; missing the semis. He was working hard to get back and there was genuine optimism but it's clear that Crosby didn't want to risk further injury and feel like he was holding anyone back.

If this is indeed Crosby's final Olympics, he finishes his career with an outstanding 16 points in 17 games, along with two gold medals -- one of Canada's greatest hockey Olympians, and is the nation's all-time scorer.

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Matthew Tkachuk and Auston Matthews make one thing clear about Sidney Crosby before gold