In the ups and downs of a roller coaster season, concern begins to arise about Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki.
It is not his talent or his effort that we question, but rather his ability to rally a team that is struggling to maintain its cohesion.
As the team prepares to face the Islanders, Suzuki’s words, although full of leadership, no longer seem to resonate with as much force in the locker room.
« We must learn from our mistakes and stay focused on 60 minutes”insisted Suzuki before the match.
A fair statement, but one that has turned into a tiring refrain, repeated with each setback.
The captain wants to believe it, but the results on the ice tell a completely different story.
Between the glaring defensive errors, the drops in speed in the third period and the inability to execute simple plays on the power play, it becomes obvious that this speech, as sincere as it may be, no longer finds the hoped-for echo among his teammates.
This problem is all the more alarming because Suzuki, at only 25 years old, already carries the weight of immense responsibility.
Being captain in a city like Montreal, where pressure from fans and media reaches peaks, is not an easy task.
Yet his calm and maturity seemed, last year, to be qualities perfectly suited to the role.
But this season, as the Canadiens seem to be mired in inconsistency, it is his voice that is starting to be called into question.
“We have to play as a team, and that starts with me”he admitted.
A humble and honest statement, but which raises a delicate question: what happens if the captain himself is no longer able to galvanize his dressing room?
Do players still listen to it?
Suzuki, despite its good faith, seems incapable of breaking this vicious circle of errors and poor performances.
The return of Patrik Laine should represent a breath of fresh air for the team, but even this breath of fresh air will not be enough if the captain’s message continues to fade.
In a locker room where individuals struggle to come together, communication becomes crucial.
But Suzuki, despite his efforts, increasingly gives the impression of preaching in the desert.
The fans, for their part, are starting to wonder if Suzuki has the shoulders for this herculean task.
Not because of a lack of talent – his hockey intelligence and work ethic are indisputable – but because he seems, for the first time, overwhelmed by the challenge.
Young players, like Juraj Slafkovsky or Kirby Dach, need a leader who not only speaks, but whose words inspire.
And if this is no longer the case, sooner or later we will have to ask ourselves the question: is Nick Suzuki’s message still audible in this locker room in search of identity?
As the Bell Center prepares to welcome the Islanders, Suzuki is playing bigger than ever.
It’s not just about winning a game, but winning back the ear of your teammates.
Because in a city like Montreal, where hockey is a religion, a captain whose voice no longer carries the risk of finding himself in an increasingly ejector seat.
Misery …
