Habs Daily: Suzuki Is A Number One Centre, Gallagher, Playoffs

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.

Montreal Canadiens News

Even though it’s rather obvious to many Canadiens fans that Nick Suzuki is a legitimate No.1 centre, that opinion is not shared by all analysts around the league. If we leave emotions, bias, and tired narratives aside and just focus on the facts, it’s quite clear that he’s easily among the top 32 centres in the league.

The stats actually suggest he’s in the top half of the best No.1 centres in the NHL, which goes to show that we tend to do a poor job updating our fact-based perception of certain hockey players. Often times, a player is given a label as a rookie, and it sticks for the rest of his career. In this case, we can drop the ‘not a true No.1 centre’ label on Suzuki, because it couldn’t be further from the truth.  [Canadiens Mythbusting – Nick Suzuki’s Impact As A Centre]

Brendan Gallagher’s mother, Della, passed away recently after a long fight with cancer. It’s clear her positive attitude, determination, and charisma had a significant impact on the Canadiens forward.

Family of warriors @BGALLY17 🕊️🙏 pic.twitter.com/WTRI8e23Zd

— HFTV (@HFTVSports) March 21, 2025

Lucie Lachance went out of her way to offer Gallagher the final Hockey Fights Cancer jersey worn by the 32-year-old veteran, a heartwarming decision by the die-hard Habs fan.

Dear @BGALLY17 I feel like this jersey should belong to you. You wore it in warm-up 2022 just before they stop making those. So this is very unique, like your mom was 🙏🙏🙏 If you want it, it’s definitely for you to keep as a memory jersey! 🕊️🕊️ https://t.co/nYS2KeIqWv

— Lucie Lachance (@LucieLou08) March 21, 2025

Gallagher was taken aback by the generous offer. He decided a jersey swap on the Bell Centre ice would be the best way to go about it. Fair play to all involved.

That is incredibly kind of you, thoughtful and really appreciated!! How about a jersey swap on the ice April 16th!

— Brendan Gallagher (@BGALLY17) March 21, 2025

If the playoffs had started on Friday, the Canadiens would have been set for a series against the top team in the NHL, the Washington Capitals. Seeing as it will be difficult to catch the Ottawa Senators, if the Habs make the playoffs they’re almost guaranteed to face the No.1 ranked club in the Eastern Conference, but such is life in a competitive sports landscape.

Besides, I’m sure some of you remember the fun playoff run from 2010, which led to the Habs eliminating both the Capitals and the Penguins as the 8th seed.

We’re less than a month away… 🫨

The #StanleyCup Playoffs start on April 19 on @NHL_On_TNT, @espn, @Sportsnet and @TVASports! pic.twitter.com/1EhsXHCX7Y

— NHL (@NHL) March 21, 2025

David Reinbacher scored his second goal of the season on Friday, via a heavy slap shot. The production is a nice bonus, but Reinbacher’s mobility seems to be great, and that’s the most important issue considering his knee injury.

🚨REINOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/1vOZXenqdp

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 22, 2025

National Hockey Now Network

The Pittsburgh Penguins came through in a big way on Friday. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets despite being outshot, which should help the Canadiens when it comes to their quest for playoff hockey. [Pittsburgh Penguins]

The Florida Panthers were not thought to have been able to be big players at the NHL Trade Deadline, but that was before Matthew Tkachuk got hurt, and the team placed him on LTIR. [Florida Panthers]

With the Detroit Red Wings scrambling to make the NHL playoffs, the last occurrence coach Todd McLellan wants to see is the double whammy of losing both games and players. [Detroit Red Wings]