![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Nick Suzuki of Canada in action with Lukas Dostal of Czech Republic in a men's ice hockey Group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_159,w_5291,h_2976/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/160/01khpk5ferc3h3d4ad2g.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Nick Suzuki of Canada in action with Lukas Dostal of Czech Republic in a men's ice hockey Group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images")
As Nick Suzuki and Team Canada get set to take on Czechia in the quarterfinal of the 2026 Milan-Cortina, they could be doing so with a couple of line changes. Suzuki has played the majority of this tournament on the wing on a line with Nathan MacKinnon and Brandon Hagel. Canada has walked through all of their opponents so far this tournament, which makes it tough to say any lines are doing poorly, but that line’s production has not been up to the standards you would expect from your second line.
Canada's lineup changes at practice
With Canada topping Group A, they had the luxury of getting an extra day's rest, which could prove beneficial, with Josh Morrissey and MacKinnon picking up injuries during group play. It also allowed them to work out the kinks in their lineup. The Celebrini-McDavid-Wilson and Marner-Crosby-Stone lines remained untouched as expected, with them being Team Canada’s most productive lines at the Olympics. The biggest change at today’s practice was Suzuki moving off the wing and back to his natural position of centre.
It should be noted that Team Canada might be testing Suzuki out at centre just in case MacKinnon is not ready to go against Czechia on Wednesday. MacKinnon suffered a knee injury against France in Canada’s final game of group play and looked to be in some discomfort, but seemed to be in good spirits after the game, giving the impression that he will be alright going forward. However, MacKinnon did miss practice today, likely for precautionary reasons. As a result, Canada tested out a line of Hagel-Suzuki-Reinhart with Marchand-Horvat-Jarvis rounding out the final trio.
Canada overpowering opponents
It is not to say that Suzuki has played poorly on the wing, but to have him playing at his best, he needs to be at centre. Suzuki did not make the team because Canada needed him to carry the load offensively. He is on the team for his versatility and ability to shut down the opposing team’s top lines. Putting Suzuki alongside Hagel and Sam Reinhart proves exactly that. All three are excellent defensive forwards. Hagel is the speedy forechecker, Reinhart has great puck awareness and positioning, and Suzuki has arguably been the best defensive forward in the NHL this season, making them a tough line for anyone they come up against.
There is no guarantee that Suzuki will lineup at centre when Canada takes on Czechia, but if they do decide to move forward with that line, it gives them the luxury of having the two best players in the world playing together on their top line. We have seen at select moments Jon Cooper play Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon together, which is a terrifying sight for every opponent. It will be interesting to see what Cooper and the rest of Canada’s staff ultimately decide to do, but one thing should be clear: Suzuki is at his best playing centre.