I have to admit if the Montreal Canadiens were confused by the decision to leave Nick Suzuki off the Canadian roster for the Four Nations Faceoff, it's hard to fault them.
I think it goes beyond just the city of Montreal when I say that Suzuki is a world-class hockey player and the entire league knows it. Suzuki plays against the top players on the penalty kill every night and on the man advantage. He has consistently reached 60-plus points over the last three seasons and that is all on a rebuilding Habs team that currently ranks 30th overall.
Suzuki being left off the Canadian squad for players who are better or bring more to the team than him is acceptable. But I would argue that Button's assessment of Suzuki being a better player than Carolina Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis is accurate. I think Jarvis brings more speed to the table than Suzuki, but I don't see what their argument for the decision was.
Craig let's Team Canada hear it 😳@CraigJButton: "Really? You're picking Seth Jarvis over Nick Suzuki? There is not a person on this planet that's going to convince me that that is a choice that should've been made#GoHabsGo #4Nations #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/za6GH223DH
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) December 5, 2024
I'm not sure what else Suzuki has to do to convince Canada that he should have been put on the roster. He does it all and he is just below a point-per-game scoring clip, with the Habs juggling their lines now and again. Suzuki embraces whoever his linemates are and adapts his game to still be effective.
There isn't a situation or scenario that comes to mind where Suzuki shouldn't be on the ice, he brings a mix of everything to the table. In a short tournament, a penalty kill or power play can cause a massive ripple effect on a team's success. The margin for error is slim and Suzuki has proven effective killing penalties and scoring plays on the man advantage.
I get it that injuries occur and that can affect how the team looks when the tournament officially kicks off. But I think it's a slap in the face to Suzuki for him not to be on the roster.
Suzuki and Cole Caufield will be spectators for 4 Nations Faceoff
The Canadiens do have a couple of players who will represent the team in Boston, MA., and Montreal, QC when the Four Nations Faceoff kicks off in February, unfortunately, Suzuki and his linemate Cole Caufield will be spectators. The duo were both overlooked by their countries' team selection group.
I have an opinion about the decision to leave Caufield off the American roster, regardless of who else is on the team. Caufield leads the Habs with 16 goals and he is two off the league lead - Sam Reinhart (18). I also would have loved to see Caufield on a throwback USNTDP line with Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy and New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes.
Caufield has added a two-way dimension to his game and his 200-foot game has improved dramatically. But the most important thing Caufield can do is put the puck in the net and make plays. He is good at both things and he has some clutch goals up his sleeve, which would be a big help in a short tournament.
- Signed, me and presumably the majority of Habs fans.