Jon Cooper confirms key lineup change ahead of quarterfinal game

After being left out of the last two matchups, veteran Brad Marchand will officially return to the lineup for the quarterfinals.

TSN confirmed that the head coach will reinstate Marchand to his lineup for the start of the knockout stage.

That return means another player will have to pay the price, be removed from the lineup, and head up to the stands.

The mystery remains as to the identity of the player who will be scratched, but the list of potential candidates is shrinking.

Will it be young Seth Jarvis, who had just taken Marchand’s spot, who will have to give up his position?

Or will Jon Cooper dare to make a move involving a center like Nick Suzuki or Sam Reinhart to reshuffle his deck?

Let’s be honest, some names appear safe from this upcoming removal from the lineup.

We can practically cross Bo Horvat off the list of players in danger, as he has delivered inspired and consistent hockey since the start of the tournament.

His defensive play and reliability in the faceoff circle make him indispensable in win-or-go-home games.

Marchand’s return adds edge and character, but it will be bad news for another big name on our Canadian team.

Let’s just hope it’s not the Montreal Canadiens captain, Nick Suzuki, who takes the hit.

We can agree that no matter who is sacrificed, it will be an elite-caliber player forced to watch the game in a suit and tie.

The official announcement is likely to spark plenty of discussion in the coming hours.

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