The 2025-26 NHL season is already near the midway mark. In February, the league will be on an extended break, as players and coaches are set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. There is plenty of debate, especially when it comes to Team Canada, as to which players will make the cut.
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki was long considered a player that was on the roster bubble for the Canadian Olympic team. It goes to show just how stacked the Canada roster is that Suzuki had to fight for a spot. Suzuki has proven himself to be a legitimate playmaker, and should fit in well on the Canada roster, if he were to make it.
The NHL world was expected to found out who made the cut on Team Canada on Dec. 31 during their official announcement. But it seems as though Canadiens fans found out the fate of Suzuki on Team Canada before the announcement date.
Fanatics leak may have spoiled Nick Suzuki's Team Canada status
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski shared some sleuthing from a Redditor on the Reddit Hockey page, and Fanatics Canada has already begun selling 2026 Team Canada Olympic memorabilia. One player who has featured memorabilia is Suzuki, even though he has not been officially named to the Canada roster. Other players not named to Team Canada that have memorabilia include Mitch Marner of the Vegas Golden Knights and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers.
So it's quite possible that Suzuki can now be considered a lock to make Team Canada based on this leak.
Thanks to an eagle-eyed Redditor on @RedditHockey, apparently Fanatics Canada is selling 2026 Olympic team memorabilia for Nick Suzuki, Mitch Marner and Brad Marchand — none of whom have been officially named to the roster yet.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) December 30, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/kOX8cJ3QRI pic.twitter.com/X165xQAxew
Suzuki had been on the roster bubble with the likes of Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals. Given the play of all four players and only a limited number of spots, it was going to be a tough decision for Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong to make.
If this does turn out to be true, it would be quite the accomplishment for Suzuki, who already is looking like the favorite to win the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward with usual favorite Aleksander Barkov sidelined due to injury. Not to mention, he was left off Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year. Since then, he has stepped up his game, especially this season.
Suzuki has played in every game for the Canadiens this season, where he posted 11 goals and 31 assists for 42 total points.
The hockey world will get their answer as to who will represent Canada in the Olympics on Wednesday. Based on this leak on Fanatics, it's quite possible Suzuki will be one of the players making the trip to Italy.