Olympic tournament: Nick Suzuki scores 75%

That's it, the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games are now behind us. Canada leaves Italy with 21 medals in the bag, including five gold. Thanks to the Quebecers, by the way.

Is that enough to call it a Canadian success? The answer is clearly no. Not for a Winter Olympics!

This is Canada's worst showing since the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

Even at the 2024, 2020, and 2016 Summer Games, Canada did better in terms of total medals won. When you see a country like Norway, which has seven times fewer citizens than Canada, making the Olympics “its” specialty, there are questions to be asked in the country of Justin Trudeau Mark Carney. #NordicCountry

In the past, we could console ourselves with the fact that we were THE hockey nation, but this year, we lost the gold medal to the United States in both women's and men's hockey. Just a few weeks after losing the gold medal again at the World Junior Championships…

Is Canada still the best country in ice hockey? The question remains (and the answer will become clear over the next few years).

I have read several analysts—paid to analyze hockey, by the way—blaming the three-on-three overtime for explaining/excusing Canada's two losses in the finals. #Men #Women

First, no, I'm not a fan of three-on-three overtime in games as important as the gold medal game, and yes, I would have preferred these games to be decided five-on-five…

But I didn't hear those same analysts complaining when Canada managed to avoid the humiliation of a quarterfinal loss to the Czech Republic… in three-on-three overtime.

I don't remember hearing them complain in 2010, either, when Sidney Crosby scored his famous golden goal in overtime with four players on each side.

And stop downplaying the importance of a win in a single-elimination game, claiming that “real” hockey is played in a best-of-seven series. Complaining about the rules when you lose makes you look like a loser.
Yesterday, Canada lost because of Nathan MacKinnon and Devon Toews' missed empty-net opportunities, its inability to score on a five-on-three, the individual plays of Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon—who wanted to steal the show— in overtime, a very soft back check by Cale Makar (who left Jack Hughes alone in the slot), questionable bench management by Jon Cooper, and some questionable selections.
Martin St. Louis often says that in overtime (three-on-three), you should only shoot if you have a high-quality scoring chance. McDavid and MacKinnon didn't wait for one yesterday before shooting…

Tell me, without joking, that Matthew Schaefer, Connor Bedard, Mark Scheifele, Mike Matheson, Noah Dobson, and Wyatt Johnston couldn't have offered Canada more than Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Seth Jarvis, Drew Doughty, Sam Reinhart, Colton Parayko, Brandon Hagel, and Travis Sanheim. Hockey Canada didn't invite the best Canadian players, and Jon Cooper didn't make enough changes to his lineup in the final. There have always been political decisions based on one player's past or another's reputation; unfortunately, that's not about to change.

And please stop overpraising Connor Hellebuyck: if Nathan MacKinnon had managed to get his shot on target when the net was empty, we would be repeating that Hellebuyck is not capable of winning when the stakes are high. #Chokeux

Yes, Canada dominated the gold medal game, but dominating doesn't count, Nate. You had to deliver once again, that's it.

Expected goals Olympic gold medal game:

Canada, 5.96
USA, 1.96

Now THAT is getting goalied. pic.twitter.com/REiKmRXti8

— David Staples (@dstaples) February 22, 2026

Instead, the Canadian players proved Bill Guerin right for not selecting Lane Hutson and Cole Caufield. If MacKinnon had put it in, we would be repeating the opposite on all the forums.

It's up to Hockey Canada to digest the silver medal (which almost ended up being fifth place) and the stuffed animals given to each player, then get back to work on the drawing board for the next World Cup. It'll be here soon, 2028.

Remember: you don't win silver, you lose gold. In 2028, then in 2030 in France, we'll have to find a way to get back to gold.

Until then, I hope Hockey Quebec will also do some soul-searching…

Nick Suzuki's tournament
The Canadiens captain didn't have a bad tournament. What's more, we can hope that he'll be even better than before when he returns to Montreal, having learned from the best in the world and gained confidence in Italy.
Suzuki scored two goals (including a huge one in the quarterfinals) in six games, posting a plus-2 rating and averaging 13:23 of ice time per game. He certainly filled some big shoes once Sidney Crosby's tournament was over.

However, it seems to me that he could have given a little more at times.

An assist, an important faceoff win, a game-changing acceleration, a goal in the last two games…

What grade would you give Nick Suzuki for his overall performance in the tournament?

Me? 75%.

Given our expectations, that's very good… but Suzuki could have given a little more. I'm sure he would be the first to admit it.