Nick Suzuki is not practicing with Nathan MacKinnon today

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Feb 11, 2026 10:14 AM ET

With about 24 hours to go before the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team’s first game at the 2026 Olympics, Jon Cooper’s men held a practice in front of the media.Yes, yes!

We obviously wanted to see if Nick Suzuki would continue to practice with Nathan MacKinnon, as he did when the team arrived in Italy.

But the answer is no.

While Connor McDavid’s line and Sidney Crosby’s line remained intact, Bo Horvat and Nathan MacKinnon traded wingers this morning (or this afternoon, in their case) at practice.

Nick Suzuki was still with Brad Marchand, but Horvat was between the two guys. The Avalanche player practiced with Brandon Hagel and Sam Reinhart.

Per @sportsnetkyle at Canada practice

McDavid still with Celebrini & Wilson
Crosby still with Marner & Stone
MacKinnon between Hagel & Reinhart
Horvat between Marchand & Suzuki

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 11, 2026

Things change quickly in the world of hockey.

With just one day to go before the first game, it makes sense to assume that these are the trios that will be used for the match against the Czech Republic at 10:40 a.m. Quebec time.

Sam Bennett or Seth Jarvis is therefore likely to be the 13th forward.

Does that mean Nick Suzuki will indeed be confined to a more defensive role? It makes sense to think that with Bo Horvat, the least effective of the Canadiens’ four centers, he will have a more defensive role.

It would be like the beginning of his career in Montreal, when he played on the wing of the fourth line.

Horvat and Suzuki may get along well, and the Canadiens player may want what’s best for Canada, but deep down, he must still be disappointed that he’s no longer with MacKinnon.

Overtime

– Still.

Unbeknownst to most, #CFMTL won both of its preseason games against MLS teams in Florida. https://t.co/hlKSsX3q1u

— Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) February 11, 2026

– Wow.

Even though the Blue Jays’ website says otherwise. https://t.co/wRMQaWWW1d

— Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) February 11, 2026

– Interesting.

One of the last Wonder jerseys for sale online by a québécois company: almost $700,000 for a Wayne Gretzky jersey?https://t.co/qzQmSHw6Da

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) February 11, 2026

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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