Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is living through an anxious wait, hoping his name will be called when Hockey Canada announces its roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The selection for the Milano Cortina Games in Italy will be revealed on New Year's Eve, placing Suzuki among the elite players vying for a coveted spot on what he calls "the hardest team to make in hockey."
The Coach Who Knows The Pain
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis understands the emotional rollercoaster all too well. His own Olympic journey was marked by both triumph and profound disappointment. St. Louis played for Team Canada at the 2006 Turin Olympics, where the team finished a shocking seventh. He was then left off the gold-medal-winning roster for the 2010 Vancouver Games, a snub that cut deep.
His path to redemption at the 2014 Sochi Olympics was unconventional. St. Louis only made the team as an injury replacement for his Tampa Bay Lightning teammate, Steven Stamkos, who suffered a broken leg. This came after St. Louis had won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer the previous season. The initial omission by Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman, who was also his GM in Tampa, led to St. Louis requesting a trade shortly after the Olympics.
Drawing from this experience, St. Louis's advice to his captain is pragmatic. "Just control what you can," St. Louis said. "At the end of the day, there's a lot of good players that don't make this team... You can control everything you can up to now on the ice. After that, it's out of your hands."
Suzuki's Case for the Roster
Nick Suzuki has built a compelling argument for inclusion through his performance. At the time of reporting, he was leading the Canadiens in scoring with 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points in 36 games, and shared the team lead with a plus-10 rating. His all-around game is the cornerstone of his pitch.
"I think I can bring anything," Suzuki stated. "I can play a skill game, physical game, offensive, shutdown. I think I'm a good piece that way, where the coaches can use me in any situation." He acknowledges the dream-like nature of the opportunity, calling a potential selection "a dream come true and a huge honour."
When confronted with the possibility of not making the cut, Suzuki admitted he hasn't dwelled on it. "I think it would be definitely disappointing, but I'm just trying to leave it all out there and if that doesn't get me on the team, then I can live with that," he said.
Olympic Hopes Across the Canadiens Locker Room
Suzuki is not the only Canadien with Olympic aspirations. He was one of three Montreal players invited to Team Canada's summer orientation camp, alongside defenceman Noah Dobson and goalie Samuel Montembeault, though he is considered the most likely to secure a spot.
Elsewhere, forward Juraj Slafkovsky has already secured his place, named to Team Slovakia after his MVP performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Rookie Oliver Kapanen is a candidate for Team Finland.
On the American side, Cole Caufield is a strong contender for Team USA after his orientation camp invite. The situation is more uncertain for diminutive defenceman Lane Hutson, who faces stiff competition on a blue line that may already include smaller players like Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox. "I just want to show them that I can defend — and defend at a high level," Hutson said of his goal.
The Ultimate Prize: Stanley Cup vs. Olympic Gold
Having won both a Stanley Cup (2004) and an Olympic gold medal (2014), Martin St. Louis was asked to compare the achievements. For him, the Stanley Cup retains the top spot.
"I'd say (the Olympic gold medal) is right behind the Stanley Cup for the sole reason that winning a Stanley Cup, you're usually with a group of guys for a few years and then you go on a two-month... grind," St. Louis explained. "The Olympics, it's special. I think it's the world stage and you represent your country. It's up there. But I would say I'd still hold the Stanley Cup in front of it."
As the December 31 announcement approaches, Nick Suzuki will continue to control what he can on the ice, hoping his play has done enough to earn a chance to chase that special Olympic moment.
