Nick Suzuki made his debut as captain of the Canadiens at a golf tournament. So it was only natural that we wanted to take stock of his first year with the C on the tricolor sweater at a golf tournament.

After all, a hockey season is a bit like a long break between two golf tournaments. On Tuesday, Suzuki took part in the first Heroes Tournament in aid of the Asista Foundation, of which he is an ambassador. A way for him to get closer to the Montrealers, he said immediately.

I don’t just want to be known as a hockey player. I want people to see and get to know me outside of the arena.

That’s part of his role as captain, he believes. A role that you learn a little on the job and will only grow this season given the departure of Joel Edmundson. In a way, the great defender had succeeded former captain Shea Weber and exuded that brotherly, sometimes even paternal authority that comforts.

Edmundson is gone – we need to find another DJ in the dressing room – other experienced candidates could take his place as assistant captain, like David Savard or Mike Matheson, but the team is still more reliant on Suzuki than ever. And the captaincy can be learned.

I knew what I was getting into, number 14 assured. I had to rely on other people to help me, like Martin St-Louis, and the wisdom of other team leaders.

Did some aspects of this job surprise him?

Suzuki grinned slightly, amused at the question. He didn’t want to confide it, but the response was almost as eloquent.

I had to make many decisions. For example when the team was out organizing activities, decisions like that I have to get used to. I’m getting used to it, but I’m learning to make big decisions for a big grouphe fell.

Everyone has their own strengths.

Suzuki said it also leverages its experience. In just four seasons he has finished bottom of the standings and a Stanley Cup final. He experienced the pomp and glory of a Canadian star and the loneliness of a hockey player stuck in a health bubble amid a pandemic to maintain the gallery and meet athletes’ financial obligations.

He also witnessed a teammate, Jonathan Drouin, leave the team mid-season to deal with his mental health issues. And he was seen speaking openly about it a few months later.

It opens your eyeshe said.

He added that this was one of the reasons that convinced him to join the Asista Foundation, which trains service dogs for people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

For all his reasons, the captain’s title has remained with him so far.

In the storm he was the only one who never left ship and played all 82 games of the season. He hasn’t missed a single game since his pro debut. It’s a way of leading by example, because to put up such resistance, one must definitely have an impeccable lifestyle.

He says he wants to anchor himself in the community. Through his charitable commitment and his connection to the city. We see him at social events, we see him at festivals, he immerses himself in life in Montreal like someone who comes from far away and wants to see everything from there big city.

A break in tone with the past.

sense of belonging

The captain spent the summer in Montreal. Others followed his example like Kaiden Guhle. Some have made many round trips to Quebec.

They’re trying to get the youngsters who train at the team’s facilities in Brossard to want it. Newcomer Alex Newhook had a week’s turn. Suzuki was keen to spend a day with his teammate. He couldn’t do more because he was temporarily called out of town. Calm, true to himself, the captain makes connections, he wants to bring the cores together and for now it seems to be working.

Rarely have we heard so much praise for Montreal from Canadian players. One wonders if they are really traveling in the same city that is so often denigrated in public spaces.

Now it remains to play hockey.

I can’t wait to see how much the youngsters have improved. Many of them couldn’t play many games. I’ve been spending a lot of time with Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Juraj Slafkovsky lately and they’re looking good, they’re healthy. They’re ready for the National League againargues the 24-year-old Ontarioian.

It’s better this way. Because the National League is definitely ready for them.