The tide is turning for Nick Suzuki, captain of the Montreal Canadiens, after intense weeks marked by scathing criticism and trade rumors.
On the one hand, Michel Bergeron, who had increased his public attacks against Suzuki, has finally stopped making sugary claims about him.
On the other hand, Suzuki would have received assurances from Kent Hughes, general manager of the CH, that he will not be traded to Vancouver in a possible exchange for Elias Pettersson.
These two developments allow Suzuki to find a little serenity in a season where media pressure has often been unbearable.
However, one element persists: the absence of excuses from Michel Bergeron, who, despite his recent silence, still refuses to admit that he was wrong to publicly denigrate the young captain.
The Tiger had been particularly merciless towards Suzuki, going so far as to assert that he was not a true captain and that he lacked the charisma to lead a team in a market like Montreal.
“This guy doesn’t have the sacred fire. He doesn’t motivate anyone. He is good, but he will never be a leader like Jean Béliveau or Saku Koivu,” he launched in a memorable offensive.
These comments left traces not only on Suzuki, but also in the Canadiens locker room.
Several teammates, including Arber Xhekaj, came to his defense, denouncing unjustified criticism and highlighting Suzuki’s qualities as a player and leader.
As the year 2025 began, many hoped that Bergeron would make amends and issue an apology.
But for now, the silence of the former coach is questionable.
His 2025 resolution may well be to acknowledge that he has crossed the line, but there is no sign that he will do so.
Meanwhile, another source of stress has been ruled out for Suzuki. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Vancouver Canucks, caught in internal conflicts between their two star centers, Elias Pettersson and JT Miller, would be ready to trade one of the two to resolve the situation.
Rumors had swirled that Vancouver could target Nick Suzuki in a trade for Pettersson, as Friedman swears Vancouver wants a top center in return.
But Kent Hughes would have reassured his captain by guaranteeing him that there was no question of sacrificing his leadership for a player, however talented he may be.
This confidence allows Suzuki to focus on his role on the team without fear of being the centerpiece of a major trade.
If the exchange rumors are now ruled out, the specter of criticism from Michel Bergeron still looms.
By refusing to apologize on TVA Sports, Bergeron maintains a position that could harm his own credibility. Suzuki, for his part, continues to show exemplary calm in the face of the Tiger’s bad language.
But Bergeron’s lack of apology does not go unnoticed, especially in a market like Montreal, where public figures are scrutinized.
A symbolic reconciliation between Bergeron and Suzuki would not only be beneficial for the player, but also for the image of the former coach, who has often been criticized for his sometimes excessive outspokenness.
As Nick Suzuki begins to regain some stability, one thing is clear: his status as captain remains a source of debate.
But by dismissing trade rumors and remaining true to himself, he proves that he is capable of handling the challenges of a market as demanding as Montreal.
As for Michel Bergeron, he has a golden opportunity to turn the page and start 2025 on a positive note. Publicly apologizing to Suzuki would not be a sign of weakness, but an act of greatness.
In the meantime, Suzuki can finally breathe… and focus on what really matters: bringing the Canadians back to the playoffs.
Michel Bergeron must have seen the trade rumors concerning Nick Suzuki as a perfect opportunity to get rid of a captain he considered incapable of inspiring a legendary team like the Canadiens.
For him, sending Suzuki to Vancouver or elsewhere would have been a way of supporting his critics and “saving” the Habs.
Since the world championship saga, where Suzuki declined the invitation to represent Canada to prioritize his mental and physical health (and especially to go on vacation to propose to his fiancée) Bergeron had not lost his temper.
He suggested that this decision revealed a lack of passion and commitment, two essential qualities according to him to wear the “C” on his jersey.
But now his dream is crumbling before his eyes.
The Vancouver Canucks, for their part, would have liked to attract a player like Suzuki to replace one of their star centers.
With Elias Pettersson and JT Miller unable to coexist harmoniously in the locker room, the Canucks find themselves at a crossroads, looking to avoid a complete collapse of their locker room.
But Canadians were never really interested in joining in this dance. Although Pettersson is a generational talent, sacrificing Suzuki would have sent a disastrous message to the team and fans.
Especially when the team is on the verge of the playoffs. Hughes, by repeating his confidence in his captain, not only consolidated his role within the organization, but also showed that he would not give in to external pressure, whether from Vancouver or local Quebec critics. with tiger sauce.
If Suzuki can now breathe, the ghost of Michel Bergeron’s comments continues to hover over him.
“He’s not cut out to be captain,” the Tiger had shouted repeatedly, highlighting what he perceived as a lack of emotion and vocal leadership.
For Bergeron, the non-selection of Suzuki within the Canadian team for the 4 Nations Showdown confirmed his accusations.
He did not hesitate to link this exclusion to Suzuki’s decision to snub the world championship, affirming that the leaders of Team Canada would have held it against Suzuki for this decision.
But now that the trade rumors have died down, Bergeron finds himself facing a wall. Suzuki remains the captain of the Canadiens and benefits from the support of his organization, his teammates and Quebec as a whole.
The CH players continue to defend their captain vigorously. For them, Suzuki embodies quiet but effective leadership, a player who leads by example on and off the ice.
Suzuki’s stability and ability to ignore outside criticism continues to ignite the locker room.
Michel Bergeron will undoubtedly have to swallow his pride when he sees that his relentlessness towards Nick Suzuki will only have served to strengthen the position of the young captain.
Suzuki, by remaining true to himself and receiving the support of Kent Hughes, showed that he had the strong shoulders to weather a media storm without flinching.
Above all, he proved that he had the shoulders to be the captain of the greatest organization of all time.
Amen.
