An ad for 2026 Olympic merch revealed the name of a Montreal Canadiens forward.
On Monday, Fanatics Canada made numerous items of Team Canada Olympic merchandise available. Among said merchandise was paraphernalia bearing Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s name.
The items are officially on sale and suggest that the Canadiens’ forward is a part of Canada’s Olympic squad. The “reveal” is surprising, considering that final rosters are not officially due until December 31.
On New Year’s Eve, Team Canada will make its official reveal. The speculation has been for Suzuki to make the team. The Canadiens’ leader was a major snub for the 4 Nations Face-off last February.
If named to Team Canada, Suzuki would be the Canadiens’ representative to the squad. For the 4 Nations, goaltender Samuel Montembeault was on the Canadian roster.
The official reveal for Team Canada will confirm if Suzuki is actually on the squad. The United States and other nations will make their unveilings official on January 2. Final roster decisions have met much anticipation from fans looking to see which of their favorite stars will skate in Milano-Cortina.
Suzuki’s Two-Way Play Crucial for Team Canada
The Montreal Canadiens’ top-line center is one of the best two-way forwards in the league. He plays tough minutes against the opposition’s best players. While he’s not precisely a shutdown center, Suzuki manages to keep opponents honest.
Offensively, Suzuki is about as good as they come. The former 13th overall pick from the 2017 NHL Draft has 11 goals and 31 assists for 42 points in 38 games this season. He’s on pace for another career season.
Last year, Suzuki posted a career-high 89 points while scoring 30 goals for the second consecutive year. His efforts led the Canadiens to an unlikely playoff berth. That strong play is what Team Canada coach Jon Cooper hopes could translate into Olympic success.
The Canadian side will have plenty of firepower in presumptive members Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, and Sidney Crosby. As such, adding Suzuki to the mix would provide another layer of scoring.
Suzuki’s Role on Team Canada to Be Much Different than Canadiens
As for Suzuki’s specific role on Team Canada, it would likely be much different from that with the Canadiens. Suzuki would apparently play in the bottom six. He would likely slot behind Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon as the 3C.
That’s not a bad spot to be in. Suzuki could pretty much line up as a matchup center. His line could feature someone like Brad Marchand or Tom Wilson. Such players could add grit, punch, and skill. Such players could have a big tourney against seemingly weaker opponents.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Canadiens forward could play on the wing if need be. Perhaps that’s an option Team Canada could have in mind. Nevertheless, moving Suzuki to the wing might not make the best use of his talent.
Ultimately, the decision on how Suzuki will line up for Team Canada remains unclear. If and when the Canadiens’ captain makes the team, the speculation will begin regarding his precise role with the team.
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