Nick Suzuki has never been the first choice for Canada, but it is challenging to crack a roster made up of the best players in the hockey-mad country. Suzuki has worn his country's colors for three tournaments: the u17 World Hockey Challenge in 2016, the Ivan Hlinka Tournament in 2017, and the World Junior Championship in 2019. He had the chance to represent his country again at this year's World Championship but turned down the opportunity. Suzuki wanted a break after a tumultuous season, but the refusal may have done more harm than good.
Dawson Mercer and Jared McCann added to Team Canada roster. Sidney Crosby is considering his invite. It sounds like Nick Suzuki and Travis Konecny have both opted not to play. https://t.co/pHlGJE1kS2
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) April 19, 2024
Darren Dreger reported last spring that Suzuki and Travis Konecny opted not to play at the World Championships. The Hockey Canada brass used the World Championship tournament to scout for this year's Four Nations Faceoff. Still, they didn't clarify that attendance was mandatory for getting selected for the team. However, Suzuki's decision not to go may have ruffled some feathers in the front office.
Dreger reported on TSN690 this morning that Suzuki wasn't one of the players the front office contacted to give them the bad news that they weren't selected. That would lead you to believe he wasn't even on their radars for selection and won't be one of the options if any of the players chosen go down with an injury before the tournament. Did they hold it against him for not playing last spring? If they did, it would be a ridiculous double standard and could be a sign of much more significant issues.
In the tweet where Dreger reported Suzuki's absence, he also mentions Konecny as a player who turned down the invite. However, we see Konecny on the roster and projects to get a spot on the first line alongside McDavid. So, what makes Suzuki so different from Konecny?
Suzuki scored 27 points in 26 games this season, while Konecny scored 30 in 26. The problem is you must look past the numbers and see why Konecny makes more sense for this roster. Suzuki is a natural center, which means he'd have to learn to play the wing. He also isn't suited for a bottom-six role, while Konecny could quickly become a checking/energy guy if the McDavid wing spot doesn't work out.
I'm not arguing that Konecny should've been left home in favor of Suzuki. However, Suzuki deserved more than not getting a call from the front office if they called other forwards. Suzuki should've been a fringe selection, and holding last year's World Championship against Suzuki and taking Konecny is a terrible look.