Connor McDavid makes heartwarming admission for Sidney Crosby as Canadian captain

Connor McDavid wore the captain's 'C' for Team Canada for the first time in Friday's Olympic semifinal against Finland but the 29 year old superstar made it clear he's hoping this is only a temporary arrangement.

With Sidney Crosby sidelined by injury and his Olympic future uncertain, McDavid stepped into the leadership void during Canada's heart-stopping 3-2 comeback victory. Yet even in his moment of triumph one that saw him break Olympic records, McDavid's thoughts remained with the captain he replaced.

"Hopefully just borrow it," McDavid said after the game. "Keeping the seat warm for him."

The sentiment speaks volumes about the relationship between hockey's greatest current player and the legend who came before him. McDavid's reverence for Crosby runs deep, so deep that at age five, he penned a letter to the Pittsburgh star seeking guidance on reaching hockey's summit.

Now, two decades later, they stand together on the Olympic stage playing side by side.

Connor McDavid has a record-breaking game under pressure

While McDavid may downplay the captaincy, his on-ice performance has been nothing short of stellar. Against Finland, he notched two more assists bringing his tournament total to 13 points with 2 goals and 11 assists through six games.

Those numbers are indeed record-breaking. McDavid has now surpassed the previous Olympic mark for most points in a single tournament involving NHL players, eclipsing the 11-point performances by Finnish legends Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu from the 2006 Turin Games.

"It's a special thing to represent your country, and to wear the C for a group like this," he acknowledged. "It means everything for me."

The path to Sunday's gold medal game has been anything but smooth. Canada has developed a troubling habit of early deficits, forcing themselves into dramatic comebacks in consecutive elimination games. Against Finland, they fell behind 2-0 before making yet another desperate rally.

"We're putting our country through it," McDavid admitted perhaps thinking of Canadians back home watching through their fingers. "Lot of stressful mornings back home. The margins are razor, razor thin. You've seen that all the way through."

Those razor-thin margins nearly sealed Canada's fate Friday. Finland deployed a suffocating defensive system that made Canada's attack feel like a sustained penalty kill. Goals from Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore tied it, before Nathan MacKinnon buried the winner with just 35 seconds remaining in regulation.

Eyes on the gold

The comeback complete, Canada survived to fight for gold. "Enjoy this one here, and get ready to go for Sunday," McDavid said. "It's kind of a quick turnaround, but we'll be ready to roll."

Coach Jon Cooper revealed that Crosby remains present in the locker room still leading even from the sidelines. There's hope that the 38-year-old might return for the final. At what's likely his last Olympics and the only best-on-best tournament where these two generational talents will skate together, everyone wants to see Crosby back.

All of Canada and every player in that locker room is pulling for number 87's return.

For now, though, the 'C' rests on McDavid's chest. And he'll wear it until he can hand it back to where he believes it belongs.