Montreal Canadiens Role Profiles: Nick Suzuki

Every year since he entered the NHL as a rookie, Suzuki’s numbers have continuously improved, and it seems every time he hits his offensive ceiling, the captain of the Montreal Canadiens can find a new level and improve from the year before. Will that happen as he progresses into his prime after turning 27 on August 10?

Expectations for the Montreal Canadiens to have another great season and make another deep playoff run are already hanging over this young team, and that will mean more pressure on the captain and given his track record, Suzuki should be able to keep improving. He just became the first Montreal Canadiens forward to record 100+ points in the last 40 years and also walked away with some individual hardware. Suzuki won the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward, and becoming the first player to score 100 points and win this award since former Detroit Red Wings star forward Sergei Fedorov accomplished the feat in the 1995-96 season.

Suzuki was able to tie his career high in playoff points from the 2021 postseason with 16 and was easily the most consistent among him and his linemates, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky. Suzuki has set the expectations for himself to be very high, but if there is anyone who could surpass these expectations on the Montreal Canadiens, it is the team’s captain. 

The read here is that Suzuki will once again lead the Montreal Canadiens in points and will be another Selke Trophy Award candidate.

In case you missed Friday’s article, check out what the role and expectations for Cole Caufield should be.