Montreal Canadiens
Canadiens: Suzuki’s Decision Not To Play At Worlds Is Justified
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki emerged as a top-line centre this season.
Not just because he set career highs in goals and points, with 33 goals and 44 assists in 82 games, though that was certainly encouraging.
More than his production, Suzuki played his leadership role to perfection, maintaining incredibly strong locker room health during yet another difficult rebuilding season.
On top of keeping all the players in line, Suzuki led by example on the ice, once again playing all 82 games of the schedule while the majority of his teammates spent time recovering from a variety of injuries.
His excellent season led to an invite to participate for Team Canada at the World Championship this summer, an invitation Suzuki declined.
WOW.
Look at this Nick Suzuki shot. 3-0 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/HcQP6dT0dO
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) March 25, 2024
Of course, some may interpret this as some sort of insult toward Hockey Canada.
Michel Bergeron opined that Suzuki is duty-bound to join the Canadian squad, especially if he wants to eventually earn an invite to the Canadian Olympic roster.
“When I think of great athletes like Ovechkin, his team was eliminated and he couldn’t wait to join the Russian squad for the World Championship,” said Bergeron. “Now, I see Suzuki, and people are telling me he’s tired. Tired of what, exactly?”
While Bergeron is known for his bombastic attitude when it comes to hockey commentary, his approach to the subject is quite clearly incendiary rather than logical.
Context Is Crucial
Only three other centres were given a higher average time on ice than Suzuki this summer, and all three are currently involved in playoff hockey.
This means that Suzuki was the player who spent the most time on the ice of all available centres for Team Canada.
In other words, he’s the player who has the most reason to cite health or exhaustion as a reason to skip the tournament. On top of the ice time, Suzuki, like most players, has nursed a bevy of injuries despite being the team’s ironman. Just because he appeared in all games does not mean he avoided injuries.
If Team Canada fails to invite Suzuki to their Olympic camps because he refused to push his body beyond the realm of reasonable, then there are bigger issues at play, as it would be an intellectually dishonest manner in which to build a hockey roster.
Yes, playing for Team Canada at the World Championship would certainly improve Suzuki’s odds of representing his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but we also have to keep in mind there is a lot of hockey left to play between now and the roster announcements.
More than anything, Suzuki’s play in the NHL will dictate whether he’s invited.
And that’s where his focus has been.
Given his responsibilities to the Montreal Canadiens franchise, that’s where his focus must be.
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The guy deserves the sprng/ summer to recharge. I am sure he has some fatiigue and injury. The worlds are important but clearly not the best of the best (NHL playoffs are on) vs the best of the rest.
As for Olympics – those decisions are made closer to the event, not based on 2024 World team.
I think whatever a player decides to do is the right decision regardless of what we all think/hope. I would love to have seen him go and build his resume though. It makes you wonder, if he’s too tired to play, what’s gonna happen when we are actually in the playoffs? I don’t think saying no will hurt his chances to represent Canada at other upcoming events, but it certainly could have helped. Suzuki started to get some props around the league from influential people like Cooper in Tampa. I also think going and seeing how other great players from other teams prepare and play can only help his own game as well. Ultimately, his health and play for our Habs is by far the most important, so whatever helps him be his best for us is the right choice.
Nick just got engaged to his longtime GF Caitlin. I was also hoping to see Slick Nick at the World Championships as he is Habs best player but under the circumstances, real life is more important. Congrats to Nick Suzuki. He was excellent this season and I hope he comes back even stronger next year.
Agreed 😁
Good on Suzuki! The purpose of hockey is for the Montreal Canadiens to win the Stanley Cup. There is nothing else. To that end, we do not need Montreal players wearing themselves out or risking injury playing in the Worlds, the Olympics, or even allstar games. I resent the implication that he is letting anyone down. His allegience MUST be to the Canadiens organization and his priority should always be about helping them win. As a fan, it is what I expect!
I would not view this as a snub of Hockey Canada by Suzuki. He has given everything he could possibly give to his team this Season. Anyone playing 82 games is a tough individual & has likely played with a few minor injuries during the Season. A very good decision on his
part.
I think that Nick declining will and should factor in the decision of Hockey Canada going forward. It’s his choice, absolutely, but decisions have consequences in life.
He represented Canada all the way up as an amateur. It was an incredibly special honor. He wasn’t too hurt or tired then but that doesn’t mean he owes them anything or shouldn’t be able to make a decision best for him. But if he’s not rostered in the big tournaments coming up, there can’t be a double standard applied as they should be able to make their decisions in their best interests also.
He’s not hurt, I watched him play all recent games and did not detect an injury of any sort let alone one that would prevent him from lacing them up. If there was a playoff game today he would play and play all the way through until elimination. He’s certainly not worn out from all the recent playoff games.
Hockey Canada might still select him for another tournament, who knows , but with Connor Bedard. Mcdavid, Mackinnon, Crosby and others, all vying for roster spots up the middle, this opportunity may have been a great audition and earned him favor in their eyes. Kids trying to make the nhl make similar choices all the time- do I go for a burger and shake with my buddies or do I go to the rink or gymn. Depends what’s most important to you.
I don’t think there’s anyone who posts here whose opinions I disagree with more often than you lol. Which is fine! You’re generally respectful and just voice what you think, but it’s kind of astonishing how much we consistently diverge in our thinking lol.
So you didn’t detect an injury? Do you have some magical ability to see injuries through a tv screen? Some type of MREyes (I’ll see my self out very shortly lol)? I really hope you realize how silly this is. Especially since even IF he wasn’t playing injured (something we may not have known just by watching), he took that slapshot right at the end of the last game. For all you know that’s what did it. Perhaps I’m remembering incorrectly and it was at end of regulation instead of overtime, but still. That could’ve EASILY done it. Plus these guys are more connected than we are and they’re saying he’s injured. They could be wrong, but I’ll take their word over you just watching a tv screen and using your spider senses.
You’re also fighting against your own point here. They know he has no problem representing his country because, as you said, he’s done it before. It means if he’s not doing it now there’s probably a decent reason…
As for the whole “he’d be playing if it were the playoffs” etc…. Well, yeah. That’s his job. His job isn’t to play in the world championship. It’s to play for and lead the habs. Even if healthy he doesn’t need to risk injury for a tournament that doesn’t hold that much weight. His play next season will obviously matter more. All hockey players dream of lifting the Stanley cup. I’m sure most dream of Olympic gold too. Very few would care about the world championship to the same extent. It’s not some huge glorious tournament. It’s literally a tournament of players who failed this year either by not making the nhl or by not getting to the playoffs. The risk clearly outweighs the reward as his play next year will matter more in selection, he could get hurt and miss all of next season, and this isn’t the cup or Olympic gold here. And yeah you could argue he won’t get a shot at Olympic gold if he doesn’t do this but again, you’re assuming it will outweigh strong play next year and the fact he could very well be injured now.
Finally, you can list a bunch of Cs and argue it limits spots but they frequently take extra Cs and move them to the wing for greater versatility. We know he’ll likely be a bubble player, but it won’t be because of his position.
Yes Hockey Canada can make the choices that works for them… but that kinda goes without saying.
Wow, so I just thought I was a guy that presented his reasoned opinions using facts as much as possible but to learn that I have superpowers makes it all worth while. I can’t decide if I’m more excited about the personal high tech X-ray thing, the spicy senses or the power to astonish but it’s all amazing.
Nicks linemates are playing for their countries despite the risks you note. Why not have a team policy prohibiting participating? Don’t players ask management for permission? I defend his right to decide not to play but am free to express my opinion on his decision.
. I watched Nick skate- accelerate, pivot etc. I watched him initiate and take body contact, one timers, navigating in traffic, going to the dirty areas board work and I never noticed anything that signaled injury. In fact I think he played his next hockey ever down the stretch. So is that a reasonable assessment based on my observation?
Decisions have consequences, you agree or are we divergent on that as well?
I don’t know you or anyone else here. I deal with opinions and issues not the people. Sorry if you’re triggered by opposing positions but that’s called debate and it’s how solutions and paths forward are often initiated.
Oof. This is…. A response lol. I was clearly being playful but I guess it hit you in the feels. My bad… btw, no one said you couldn’t give your opinion. So idk why you keep repeating that you can. We know you can, you don’t need to tell us or act like someone was trying to silence you or play the victim here. Just like you can give yours, I can give my opinion that yours is a bad one. As Marc points out Suzy himself said he was dealing with injuries, and I also noteyou just ignored the whole “did you see the slapshot he took at the end of the last game” thing.
Yes decisions/actions have consequences, just like his play next year will also have consequences. If he’s good enough, they’ll take him. Again, he’s shown he is willing to represent the country, and based on all available evidence (the player himself), rather than just some feeling you get watching ppl through a tv screen, he’s injured. They won’t hold that against him. “… who represented his opinions using facts”… you’re literally pretending you’re a human injury detector and this power works through television screens (so no, not a reasonable observation). I have no problem having a jovial disagreement but don’t act like you’re some enlightened person with a brilliant take being told not to share your opinion when this is what you come armed with lol.
Your entire last paragraph is so silly and contradictory. I point out an opinion that diverges from yours, but you say I’m “triggered” then go on to talk about how this is just debate etc. Lol, you see the hypocrisy there, right? You having an issue with an opinion that’s different, saying the person is “triggered” just for sharing it, then playing the victim when NO ONE said you can’t share your opinion lmao. Probably not, cuz I’ve heard that in Swahili “hypocrisy” means injury, and you’d obviously be able to detect that if it were present…. Even through the screen
Oh and as for his linemates… good for them. They’re probably not injured…
Dana, you say “He’s not hurt, I watched him play all recent games and did not detect an injury of any sort…” When did you become an expert on injury detection. For all we know he could have been playing with injury at times but just played through it. Some players are tougher than others. I have a lot of respect for Suzuki because of his decision making capabilities.
Suzuki mentioned several times this season that he was dealing with injuries.
But even if he wasn’t, it’s not up to us to tell him what to do with his time off.
Well said. Besides, Nick just got engaged to his longtime GF, Caitlin. I think real life matters are more important than hockey and I am a diehard Hab fan
Watching him play and seeing him play his best hockey of the year the last month or two which would indicate not injured. Nothing he did on the ice indicated he was favouring a particular body part. I’m not a doctor just a hockey fan. Who thinks he played poorly down the stretch due to a possible injury? What body part was he favouring ?
Mcdavid was injured early this year, it was obvious, but you could see when he recovered. It’s a man’s game, and they tough out a lot of bumps and bruises and it’s normal for players to play stretches of the year in discomfort.
I am a huge fan of Nick Suzuki as previously mentioned in other posts. I’m not telling him what he should do with his time off. I’m suggesting that there are consequences for decisions. I’ve said in both previous posts that I defend his right to make the best decision for himself but that’s true for everyone.
This is a very bad take. It only took 3 days and your comment did not age well. Nick Suzuki just decided to put real life matters ahead of hockey and he just announced his engagement to his longtime GF, Caitlin Fitzgerald. Do you actually think it was more important for Suzuki to go to the World Championships rather than to make one of the most important decisions anyone can make in life? Get real.
I’m guessing he wants to be part of the 4 nations and the olympics. Basically he has a month off. For me I ‘d like to see him as part of the WCs representing Canada. It’s all paid for . He can bring his lady.
For sure I’m a bit disappointed to hear Nick won’t be joining team Canada, but if injured I do understand… that being said 3 weeks between the end of his ironman season and the start of the tournament… Despite the habs missing the playoffs each year recently he has never once made it to the tournament, if I am wrong please advise. It’s also in a great city this year, and some good players expected to join the team, this year seemed like a golden opportunity (excuse the pun).
Would he have passed if there were not legitimate issues? I doubt it.
Considering the fact that Nick Suzuki just got engaged 2 days ago to his long time GF Caitlin Fitzgerald, I would say this article is not only accurate but also auspicious as well as a fortuitous take. I’m a diehard Habs fan and Nick Suzuki is my favorite hockey player. I was slightly disappointed that Slick Nick decided to forego the World Championships but under the circumstances, it’s not only understandable, it was also the correct decision. Congrats and look forward to seeing you lead the team to the playoffs in the future Captain.