Brad Marchand scratched by Team Canada minutes before puck drop

Team Canada will hope to improve to 2-0 in the 2026 Olympics when they take on Switzerland today in the wake of their dominating 5-0 victory over Czechia.

But minutes before puck drop today, Canada head coach Jon Cooper has made a head scratching roster decision. Veteran Brad Marchand will not play, and injured defenseman Josh Morrissey also looks like he won't be playing as well.

The news was reported by Sportsnet analyst Kyle Bukauskas:

Marchand had an assist on Bo Horvat's second period goal.

Marchand, who spent the majority of his NHL career in a Boston Bruins sweater, won the Stanley Cup in his rookie year in 2011.

And even though he made an additional pair of trips to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013 and 2019, the Bruins couldn't get the job done.

He was traded to the divisional foe Florida Panthers at last year's trade deadline, and finally won his second Stanley Cup. He followed that up with a six year contract extension to remain with the Panthers.

So far in his first full year in a Panthers sweater, Marchand has 50 points (25G, 25A). His Panthers teammate Sam Bennett was initially not chosen for Canada's roster, but was later added because of an injury to Anthony Cirelli.

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Team Canada likely making big lineup change after reports at practice