It might not have been the fairytale ending, but there’s no question who the best player in the world is.

Following Canada’s disappointing overtime loss to the United States in the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics, forward Connor McDavid was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

McDavid had the best singular performance of any men’s player at the Olympics during the NHL era. Along with a tournament-leading 11 assists, the Edmonton Oilers captain posted 13 assists, the most by a player at the Winter Games with NHL participation. He finished three points ahead of Canadian teammate Macklin Celebrini for the tournament lead in points.

No. 97 was also named the best forward in the tournament, as well as to the Media All-Star Team.

In his first Olympic experience, McDavid rose to the occasion. Building off a solid performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, he represented his country proudly by being a driving force in Canada getting back to the gold medal game for the first time since winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, the last time NHL players were allowed to compete.

McDavid was especially clutch during the knockout stage. He picked up assists in both wins against Czechia and Finland, including setting up Nathan MacKinnon for the game-winning goal late in regulation in the semifinals against the Finns.

The Richmond Hill, Ont. native also finished with a plus/minus of +5, while averaging 20:14 of ice time, second on the team only to defenceman Cale Makar.

McDavid took on the pressure of an entire nation, pressure that grew expotentially when captain Sidney Crosby went down with an injury during the quarterfinal game against the Czechs. McDavid ended up wearing the ‘C’ for Canada’s final two games of the tournament. Unfortunately, for McDavid, the loss on sport’s grandest stage is another mark against his already Hall of Fame career, having lost in an Olympic final, and back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals…all with Matthew Tkachuk on the other side.