The true reason Brad Marchand was absent for Team Canada

Brad Marchand’s absence from Canada men’s national ice hockey team raised plenty of questions after he sat out the last two games of the tournament.

With Canada preparing for a quarterfinal showdown against Czech Republic, further details have emerged — adding an intriguing layer to his Olympic campaign.

Head coach Jon Cooper revealed that Marchand had been “dealing with something,” leading the staff to rest him as a precaution. The precise nature of the issue has not been made public, though it may relate to the lingering problem that sidelined him earlier in the season.

Interestingly, Marchand admitted he never anticipated playing a major role in the tournament to begin with.

“To be honest, coming in, I didn’t think I’d be in the lineup,” Marchand said Tuesday, via Sportsnet reporter Luke Fox. “I thought I’d kinda be the extra guy and be a voice. Try to be loud and obnoxious in the room. So, I mean, I’m just so proud and honoured to be part of this group.”

Now, with the knockout stage looming, his potential return could offer Canada a valuable lift. Whether it’s through offensive production or his trademark spark in the dressing room, Marchand’s influence may prove more significant than even he expected — and perhaps more than anyone else initially realised.