Nick Suzuki is becoming a quiet leader with Canadiens
“I think some leaders are just pure by their play and I think that’s what Nick’s going to be,” assistant coach Luke Richardson says.
Stu Cowan • Montreal Gazette
“I don’t think he’s going to be a real loud, vocal, rah-rah guy, but not everybody has to be,” Canadiens assistant coach Luke Richardson says about Nick Suzuki. “I think some leaders are just pure by their play and I think that’s what Nick’s going to be.”PHOTO BY BRUCE BENNETT /Getty Images
Bergevin had painted himself into a corner with Pacioretty, with the Canadiens insisting he had asked to be traded and the captain saying he hadn’t. Pacioretty fired his agent Pat Brisson, a close friend of Bergevin’s, and hired Allan Walsh to represent him. It got ugly and there was no way Pacioretty was going to return with the Canadiens to start the 2018-19 season.
When asked at the golf tournament how the trade developed, Bergevin said: “Oh, boy. This has been going on for a while. Obviously, for us Nick Suzuki was the key piece because we like a young ‘A’ prospect that was picked 13th overall (at the 2017 NHL Draft), which I believe at the time we had him No. 11 on our list. (Golden Knights GM George McPhee) went through a thing he mentioned to me in the past (that) trading a young player, he was not very keen on that. But at the end of the day, to get you have to give, and we were able to get a deal done and I hope it works for both parties. I really do.”
The trade has worked out well for both teams, but the Canadiens got the upper hand when they beat the Golden Knights in their semifinal series this year to advance to the Stanley Cup final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Suzuki, 21, is quickly developing into the No. 1 centre Bergevin was hoping he would become when he made the trade and the 21-year-old is also becoming a leader on the Canadiens.
After struggling in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final — going minus-3 and failing to get a shot on goal in a 5-1 loss to the Lightning — Suzuki bounced back with a strong Game 2, scoring the Canadiens’ only goal in a 3-1 loss with a team-leading nine shots.
“I think he’s a quiet guy, but he’s going to be a quiet leader,” assistant coach Luke Richardson said about Suzuki. “I’m sure he was in junior (with the OHL’s Guelph Storm). You saw him tear it up there during the playoffs and you’ve seen it over the last two years just grow every game. I think it’s the confidence level that’s showing even in his smile. He’s kind of got that sly smile on the ice — I’m sure it bothers the other team — but it brings confidence to himself and I think his teammates just showing that he’s just gaining more confidence in his play and in his demeanour.
“I don’t think he’s going to be a real loud, vocal, rah-rah guy, but not everybody has to be,” Richardson added. “I think some leaders are just pure by their play and I think that’s what Nick’s going to be. Definitely he’s more comfortable talking and speaking on the bench, asking questions of the coaches and discussing plays with his teammates, whether it be before a draw or not. I’m sure Tyler Toffoli’s really helped out in that area this year with him.”
Suzuki is in his second NHL season and veteran teammate Eric Staal is in his 17th. Staal was asked if Suzuki reminds him of anyone he has played with before.
“One guy I guess that jumps right out at me is a Ray Whitney, a smaller right shot but uber-competitive and intelligent with the puck and that’s kind of what Nick is,” Staal said. “He’s really, really competitive, very intelligent with the puck, puts himself in good positions to be able to do the right things defensively but also create offence. So he’s a huge part of our team and developing into a leader for this group and an important part of what we got going here.”
Suzuki and 20-year-old teammates Cole Caufield and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are the Canadiens’ young guns and the future has arrived quickly for the trio with this unexpected run to the Stanley Cup final. They will be counted on heavily by the Canadiens for the rest of this series and for years to come. They are developing a bond both on and off the ice and Suzuki and Caufield are playing on the same line with the veteran Toffoli.
“Watching him earlier this year you could see the skill, the work ethic and the really good player that he is,” Caufield, who started this season at the University of Wisconsin and won the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in U.S. college, said about Suzuki. “But being able to play with him and be with him every day you kind of see how calm he is and how mature he is as a player and a person. How he carries himself every day is pretty special and he’s a big part of our team and why we’ve had success to this point.”
