Why Nick Suzuki Has To Be on Team Canada

On top of having the 2nd-most assists in the NHL this season alongside Evgeni Malkin, behind only Connor McDavid, Suzuki is tied for the most points in the entire NHL with David Pastrnak since the Four Nations Break last season, with 56 points in his last 39 games. This would put the Habs captain on pace for 117 points over an 82-game schedule since then. If we take just his 19 points in 13 games from this season, he is on pace for 101 assists and 120 points. He has done everything he can to show that he belongs on the Olympic team from an offensive standpoint.

However, an offensive role may not be available for someone like Nick Suzuki who would be stealing a spot from someone who made Team Canada during the Four Nations tournament last year. With that being said, it is more likely he takes a role from a guy like Seth Jarvis, Travis Konecny, Brandon Hagel or Anthony Cirelli, who were all guys that played bottom-six roles from the team. Then we must consider that many of the players in the top 6 have developed great chemistry together during the Four Nations, meaning they likely won’t want to shuffle that up too much to begin the Olympics. If Suzuki makes the team and stays hot, he could work his way up Canada’s depth chart.

Suzuki has all the intangibles that Team Canada values such as leadership and versatility. He may not have played much wing at the NHL level since becoming the Canadiens’ 1st line centre during his sophomore campaign in the league. Either way, he can handle the work along the boards and not get pushed around with his 5’11 and 207 LBS frame. He can be physical when it needed from him as well.

According to Craig Button, the only centres that are better than Suzuki in the NHL today, are Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Keep in mind, he has Crosby playing on the wing with MacKinnon as the Cole Harbour boys are amazing together. Button sees it as Suzuki should be as much of a lock for Canada as Patrice Bergeron was during his career. The only difference is that Suzuki has an edge on the offensive side, while Bergeron was better on the defensive side, but they play a similar game. Both bring leadership, an elite 2-way game, and have the versatility to play any role asked of them.

It’s hard to imagine that, with how reliable and dominant he has been, Suzuki doesn’t get named to Team Canada at this point. The truth is he can play any role asked of him and will only help Canada’s chances of winning gold in Milan come February. When all is set and done, Suzuki should be slotted on Canada’s 3rd line when the tournament starts, playing a shutdown role similarly to what Cirelli did at the Four Nations, but with more offense hence him being on a 3rd line rather than on the 4th line. If he doesn’t make Team Canada, it is because the team has a bias against him at this point.

Do you think Suzuki makes Team Canada?