In less than an hour, the Canadiens will play their first playoff game since the summer of 2021. The club, which has undergone major changes over the past four years, is back in the spring dance.
And this in a year when they weren’t necessarily expected to be there. There was talk of a “mix”… but not necessarily a series.
But Nick Suzuki was one of those who believed in it from the start. And despite the team’s failings for much of the season, hearing Kent Hughes say that his captain had implored him not to sell at the trade deadline was proof enough.
That said, what Suzuki revealed in an interview with Félix Séguin (TVA Sports) was that the discussion between him and the GM lasted no less than an hour.
Clearly, the captain believed in this group.
It’s worth remembering that, at the time, the CH was seriously struggling. The club was racking up losses… and Kent Hughes was in a position where he had to consider the idea of selling.
That said, since he still believed in his group too, the GM gave Suzuki an ultimatum: he had to give him a reason not to sell.
And on the return from the 4 Nations Confrontation (which motivated the captain, given that he was ignored), the club lined up victories.
In the end, then, the club didn’t sell… and even if it didn’t buy either, here it is today in the playoffs. Who knows if the CH will make it all the way this spring… but the simple fact of seeing the youngsters play playoff field hockey is an experience worth its weight in gold for a young group.
And above all, it shows that the captain has won his bet in every respect.
If the CH is to make any headway in the playoffs, it will once again need its captain to play big field hockey… but the good news is that he has the resources to help him.
No, the club hasn’t been a buyer… but adding Ivan Demidov to your lineup isn’t bad either, we agree.
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