NHL Analyst Thinks Two Montreal Canadiens Will Make Team Canada In Return Of Best On Best Hockey
When thinking about top-tier hockey teams, the Montreal Canadiens may not immediately come to mind. Nonetheless, as international hockey prepares to return to the global stage, a few Canadiens players could find themselves donning their national colors.
The last time elite players from around the world converged was during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, where Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price demonstrated his prowess as the world’s best player, leading Canada to victory. Price’s stellar performance was also evident during the most recent Olympics featuring NHL players, back in 2014, where he played a crucial role in securing a gold medal for Canada.
While nearly a decade has passed since the last international tournament, two events are on the horizon: an NHL-hosted 4 Nations Face Off scheduled for next February, followed by NHL players’ return to the Olympics in 2026.
Despite the Canadiens’ current standing not placing them among the league’s elite teams, several players have the potential to represent their countries in these forthcoming events.
Kevin Bieksa is a Nick Suzuki & Sam Montembeault Respecter 🫡 pic.twitter.com/UyrBoSxmgh
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 11, 2024
According to prominent hockey analyst Kevin Bieksa of Sportsnet, two Canadiens players are being considered for Team Canada. Center Nick Suzuki and goaltender Sam Montembeault were both mentioned as potential candidates.
Suzuki’s inclusion among the plethora of talented centers available for Team Canada is commendable, considering his standout performance this season, boasting 20 goals and 53 points in 55 games.
Montembeault’s selection may come as a surprise, given the limited options in goal for Canada. While his stats – a 3.21 GAA and .903 SV% – may not place him in contention for the Vezina Trophy, the absence of clear-cut favorites in goal presents an opportunity for him.
While the journey to the actual international tournaments is still far off, it’s intriguing to see a couple of Canadiens players making the shortlist to represent Canada once again.