Nick Suzuki, heading into his third season as captain of the Montreal Canadiens, faces a daunting challenge: balancing the team’s desire for a playoff push with management’s patient approach to rebuilding.
At the Canadiens’ annual golf tournament, team owner Geoff Molson, executive VP of hockey operations Jeff Gorton, and GM Kent Hughes tempered expectations, emphasizing that while they want to be “in the mix” for a playoff spot, their primary focus remains on player development. Suzuki, however, is eager to lead his team back to the postseason, where he and his teammates long to be.
“For us, it just means battling for a playoff spot right to the very end,” Suzuki said. “We want to make the playoffs this year and get back where we used to be. It’s up to us to get those wins and put ourselves in position to make the playoffs at the end of the regular season.”
Suzuki, who was part of the Canadiens’ surprise run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, knows what it takes. “When we made that run, no one saw it coming. We just believed in ourselves as a group,” he reflected. “To have that belief in each other and what you’re doing is crucial. I think we have that in our room.”
Suzuki believes the team is poised to surprise many this season, citing a deep forward group and promising young defensemen. “There’s a lot of optimism in the group. We’re in a really good position right now, and we’re excited to get the season going,” he added.
As the youngest captain in franchise history, Suzuki has grown into the role. While still finding his voice as a leader, he’s gaining confidence in communicating with his teammates. “I was pretty young when I got named captain, and I’m still learning. It’s getting easier every year, gaining respect.”
https://x.com/StuCowan1/status/1835676950808895994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1835676950808895994%7Ctwgr%5E43d013583778d2fe2e948a99e5f049e779cab272%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmontrealgazette.com%2Fsports%2Fhockey%2Fnhl%2Fhockey-inside-out%2Fstu-cowan-canadiens-captain-nick-suzuki-faces-tough-challenge-this-season
This season, Suzuki’s challenge is clear: finding a balance between his competitive nature and management’s patient approach. He’s determined to push for success but understands that decisions from the front office might focus on the future rather than immediate wins.
“I’m a competitive guy. I don’t want to be sellers at the trade deadline,” Suzuki said. “For us players, it’s about focusing on the present. Management might see things differently, but our job is to win as many games as possible.”
Ultimately, Suzuki’s goal remains to lead the Canadiens to playoff contention, even as management urges patience. “It’s our job to go out there and do it, and I think we’ve got the team to do that.”
Leave a Reply