Nick Suzuki named Habs captain
Posted September 12, 2022 9:39 am.
Last Updated September 12, 2022 3:17 pm.
Nick Suzuki has been named the 31st captain in Montreal Canadiens history.
At only 23-years-old, he is the youngest captain the team has ever had.
The announcement was made at the Habs annual golf tournament Monday. Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes said the decision was made by the club’s hockey management personnel.
Suzuki was an alternate captain last season, he now succeeds Shea Weber, who served as captain between 2018 and 2022.
Joel Edmundson and Brendan Gallagher will serve as alternate captains this season.
This is Suzuki’s fourth professional season and the first year of an eight-year contract extension signed in October 2021.
He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens in 2019-20 and was named to the League’s All-Rookie Team. The Habs note he has registered 143 points (49 goals, 94 assists) in 209 career NHL games.
A message from Captain @nsuzuki_37!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/SbCHq447qS
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) September 12, 2022
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Last season, the Suzuki produced a career-high 61 points in 82 games and led the team in scoring. Suzuki also made his first appearance in the NHL All-Star Game. His streak of 209 consecutive games played is the sixth longest active streak in the NHL (tied with Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames).
A native of London, Ontario Suzuki played for the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and Guelph Storm. During his final junior season, he helped the Storm win the OHL Championship with 42 points in 24 postseason appearances. That earned him OHL Playoffs MVP honors, before the Storm ultimately fell in the semifinals of the Memorial Cup. Suzuki also represented Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, collecting three assists in five games.
Selected in the first round (13th overall) by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, Suzuki was acquired by the Canadiens along with Tomas Tatar and a draft pick in exchange for Max Pacioretty on September 10, 2018.
Photo Credit: Montreal Canadiens
