There’s a lot to like when evaluating Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki’s season.
He finished the year by anchoring one of the best lines in the NHL, and his standing among No.1 centres in the league is no longer disputable
The facts all suggest he’s not just a No.1 centre, he’s producing stats that could build a strong argument to say he’s among the top 10 centres in the NHL.
With that in mind, Suzuki was invited to join teammate Mike Matheson, as well as Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Marc-Andre Fleury at the World Championship, to represent Canada as they attempt to secure a gold medal.
Suzuki decided not to go, as he’s currently nursing a few injuries that he wants to resolve prior to the start of training camp. Say what you will about Team Canada’s perception of Suzuki, but it’s crystal clear that he’s doing everything possible to ensure he can give the Montreal Canadiens his best, and it’s very difficult to criticize such an approach.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that Suzuki is among the iron men in the NHL, and has yet to miss a game since making the NHL in 2019-20. That’s over 450 games in a row, many of them featuring a lineup that was devastated by injuries.
We say Suzuki stayed healthy during that stretch, but a more accurate description would be to say he overcame a litany of minor injuries to avoid missing any games.
Montreal’s health status improved slightly in 2024-25, but not to the point that Suzuki had the luxury to take a single shift off. By taking some recovery time this summer, not only will he be able to spend time with his fiancée, he’s also keeping his eyes on the ultimate goal, which is bringing the Canadiens to the next level in 2025-26.
