Despite the Montreal Canadiens' early season struggles, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the future.
Nick Suzuki is a player who should bring excitement now and in the future because he plays such a strong 200-foot game. He impacts the game in all three zones and never takes a night off, nor does he cheat for offence. Suzuki plays the game the right way, and the decision by Habs management to name him captain speaks to the direction in which they believe he can lead the young roster.
I'm sure that Ken Dryden isn't the only guy who thinks highly of the Canadiens captain, but his comments are worth noting. To hear your name as the guy who a Habs legend loves to watch most has to be reassuring. There are many exciting names in the Canadiens history and Dryden's name should be etched in the Canadiens' Mount Rushmore of goaltenders.
“I like watching Nick Suzuki play. He just knows how to play in all aspects of the game. He’s the one I enjoy watching the most.”
— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) October 22, 2024
- Habs legend Ken Dryden tonight pic.twitter.com/MZwghamwIc
Dryden has a point, and the league has come to know exactly what he is saying when he says that Suzuki knows how to play in all aspects of the game. Montreal has a ways to go before they can be deemed Stanley Cup contenders. But one thing that is certain is the organization has a strong leader and number one centre with Suzuki.
Point per game is rolling
Suzuki mentioned in an interview that his goal was to attain point-per-game numbers by the season's end, and up to this point he is doing it. Montreal's captain has seven points in seven games, including two goals and five assists. The season is a long, winding road and many things happen along the way, so the early adversity is just another obstacle.
I'm sure if you ask Suzuki right now what he wants, it would be for the Canadiens to have a winning record. His producing a point each game would be a big help, but most important is getting the team all on the same page defensively. As Dryden stated, Suzuki does all things right, so who better to lead the team out of their early season slide?
Rebuilds aren't linear and they definitely give young teams lots of challenges to battle through. Thankfully for Montreal, this will ensure that the team is well prepared when they reach their contention window, because of the callouses they will develop. 82 points through 82 games sounds great, but putting together a season that has the team feeling optimistic for the future is most important.