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Did Team Canada Just Reveal Nick Suzuki’s Olympic Fate?

Originally posted on NHL Trade Talk | By Jackson Weber | Last updated Dec 29, 2025 9:23 PM ET

Hockey Canada has less than 48 hours to finalize their 2026 Winter Olympic roster ahead of the big reveal on Wednesday, December 31, at 11:30 pm EST.

While there are still a few tough decisions likely being debated behind closed doors, most of the lineup should already be set—and fans may have just gotten a subtle hint about the fate of Montreal Canadiens star Nick Suzuki.

Marco D’Amico of RG Media noticed Team Canada merchandise appearing on the Fanatics website, including several items featuring Suzuki with the number 14 on them.

Items with Sidney Crosby, Brad Marchand, and Mitch Marner‘s names on them can also be seen, a good sign for Suzuki, given all three are either a lock or very likely to represent their country in February.

The 26-year-old has made a very strong case for himself, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone if he’s among the 14 forwards selected. Suzuki has continued his ascension to start this season, having produced 42 points (11 goals, 31 assists) across 38 games played so far, pacing to ever so slightly surpass his career-best 89-point 2025-26 campaign.

Nick Suzuki Should Be on Team Canada

While there may be some hesitation when it comes to Suzuki making Team Canada—largely due to his history of skipping events like the World Championships—this should still be an easy decision.

He’s undoubtedly one of the 14 best Canadian forwards, and quite frankly, he’s played like one of the best 14 forwards in the world over the last two years, which shows in the numbers as he ranks 13th in the NHL in point production during that span.

Beyond the offense, he brings a dependable two-way game, is strong in the faceoff circle, and capable of killing penalties, making him an ideal fit as a third- or fourth-line center in this type of tournament.

We’ll find out soon enough whether Suzuki does, in fact, make the team, but this hint from Fanatics should only confirm the obvious: he has earned the opportunity to don the red and white in Milan.

This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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