Canada vs Czech Republic: Nick Suzuki’s role | Three players who should be left out

Marc-Olivier Cook
Canada vs Czech Republic: Nick Suzuki’s role | Three players who should be left out
Credit: Getty Images

Canada is getting ready to start its men's hockey tournament at the Milan Olympics.

And for the occasion, the Canadiens will face the Czech Republic, which is not necessarily a powerhouse.

No matter! That doesn't mean Canada should take its opponent lightly. After all, we saw what happened with Finland against Juraj Slafkovsky and Slovakia in the opening game…

Of course, in Montreal, we'll all be watching Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki this morning.

At yesterday's practice, Suzuki was placed on the wing of the fourth line… and we expect that to be his role for the start of the competition. It's also worth noting that he's part of one of the team's three penalty kill units, buthe doesn't play on the power play… even though he should.

It will be up to him to prove that he deserves more ice time. 

We have an idea, by the way, of which players are likely to be left out of the first game of the tournament.

After all, during this morning's skate, there were three extra guys: Travis Sanheim, Seth Jarvis, and Darcy Kuemper.

These aren't big surprises, mind you. Sanheim is considered the club's eighth defenseman, Jarvis made the club at the last minute with Brayden Point's injury… and Kuemper is perhaps the least talented goaltender of the three participating in the tournament.

We've been eagerly awaiting the start, but we'll finally get to see Canada and its NHL players in action later this morning.

It's going to be great.

And everything is in place for Canada to have a great tournament. With the players on the Canadian team, expectations are high… and it will be particularly interesting to see how the club performs.

Because there are other good teams in the competition… and Finland learned that the hard way yesterday, losing 4-1 to Slovakia in a game where Juraj Slafkovsky was truly dominant.


Overtime

– Medal alert. Congratulations, Mikaël!

– Speaking of Slaf.

– Okay. Note that she will miss the Canadian women's game against Finland this morning.

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