Nick Suzuki no longer hides his ambition: he wants to become general manager after his playing career.
This desire to one day find himself behind the scenes of management is already felt, and his involvement in the reconstruction of the Canadiens is obvious.
We can sense that Suzuki is tired of losing. He is not only the captain on the ice, but also seems to want to participate in the decisions that shape the future of the team.
This pressure he puts on Kent Hughes and Martin St-Louis shows that he has taken to heart not only his role as leader, but also that of a future manager.
Moreover, Suzuki never loses sight of the strategic aspect of the game. Most people would have returned from a wedding in Italy with a light heart, enjoying the euphoria and relaxation after such an event.
Not Suzuki. As soon as he boarded the plane after teammate Josh Anderson’s nuptials in June, he immediately went into business mode.
The NHL draft was being held at the time, and Montreal had two picks in the first round. As captain, Suzuki felt obliged to follow events closely.
He watched the draft from the plane and, once he arrived home, continued to watch the selections. This intensity, which borders on obsession, shows a level of involvement rarely seen among NHL captains.
“I think I already have a pre-management mentality”he told a select group of journalists during the NHL Player Media Tour in Las Vegas.
“I love this aspect of the league. And I feel like, as a captain, I have to know what’s going on in the organization, what guys are coming. »
Suzuki even took the time to call the Canadiens’ top two picks, Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage, to congratulate them and closely follow their development.
This shows how much he takes his role to heart, not only for his future teammates, but also for those who play alongside him currently.
Nick Suzuki, at 25 years old, assesses his teammates with surprising precision for a player who is still young.
He does not hesitate to analyze in detail the progression of Juraj Slafkovsky, with whom he formed a line. He hopes the young striker can continue his momentum. “
“He played really well in the second half of the season with me and Cole (Caufield). His attitude is perfect for Montreal. He likes to have fun, but he takes his job very seriously.”
Beneath its calm and sometimes boring exterior, Suzuki hides impressive strategic thinking. Whether it’s addressing Martin St-Louis’ impact as a coach or talking about Kent Hughes’ moves, he always has a thoughtful response.
This is how Suzuki developed what he calls his “pre-management” side. He has an overview of the organization and the league, and knows exactly where his team stands in the rebuilding process.
For Suzuki, it is obvious that this reconstruction cannot last forever.
“We can’t just keep piling up our hopes. Not everyone will become an NHL player. Those who do, it’s our responsibility to help them improve. I want to make the playoffs. »
These words reflect the young captain’s frustration with the team’s slow progress. It is obvious that he aspires to concrete results, and quickly.
“The last two years we were allowed to experiment with different things, and the mistakes weren’t catastrophic. But I can’t wait to get back to a winning mentality. “
His message to Kent Hughes is direct and merciless.
If the pressure from Suzuki is already being felt on the hockey level, we can wonder if after his career, this same Nick Suzuki will not find himself behind the desk of Kent Hughes.
The CH CEO may well have to deal with a captain whose ambitions go beyond the ice.
One thing is certain, Suzuki is not content with being a simple player, he is already thinking about his post-career, and he does not hesitate to let it be known.
Kent Hughes is booked.
