Canadiens Summer Workouts Show Dedication, Leadership

Judging by the impressive number of Montreal Canadiens players who have committed a significant portion of their off-season to practicing, you could be fooled into thinking the 2025-26 regular season is set to begin in the next few days.

However, the Habs are yet even to ask their young players to report, with the team’s rookie camp set to get underway on September 10. The annual golf tournament is scheduled for September 15, while the main training camp officially begins on September 17, with medicals and physical tests.

And yet, we have endless examples of Habs players hard at work in Brossard, where the organization’s practice facilities are located. The practice sessions started in early July, shortly after the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Montreal Canadiens At Work

The most common players spotted in Brossard happen to be among the youngest, with Calder Trophy winner Lane Hutson and top prospect Ivan Demidov leading the charge. We can chalk up their dedication to youthful exuberance, but I’d go one step further, suggesting that they possess the type of drive necessary to not only become elite athletes, but to also maintain their position atop the mountain of athletic prowess.

MUST READ: Montreal Canadiens Prospect Rankings – Ivan Demidov The Gifted

Of course, you could argue that Hutson is already among the NHL’s elite, but the best athletes, regardless of the sport, have shown a borderline obsession to improving their play, which tends to serve them well as the rest of the athletes in the sports landscape attempt to match their work ethic

Beyond their willingness to sacrifice the offseason in a bid to improve their results in the regular season, the sheer number of players in attendance on any given morning in Brossard speaks to their belief in the team’s potential, which is intrinsically tied to leadership.

Nick Suzuki could have taken the entire summer off without any semblance of legitimate complaints from Canadiens fans. If we’re being honest, he probably deserved a longer break, as his summer was also interrupted by Team Canada’s Summer Orientation Camp, an encouraging development for his aspirations to represent his country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

With that in mind, Suzuki has been present at most of the team’s unofficial practice sessions, speaking to his role as the team’s undisputed leader, not to mention serving as a confirmation for the younger players that their hard work is likely to pay off in the long run.

Le spécialiste des mises en jeu Marc Bureau est présent ce matin à Brossard avec quelques joueurs dont Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach, Juraj Slafkovsky, Zachary Bolduc, Oliver Kapanen, Joe Veleno et Alex Newhook.#GoHabsGo #Suzuki #Slafkovsky #Dach pic.twitter.com/ixMgWY3wu1

— Pat Hockey (@PatouInfo) September 3, 2025

Suzuki, 26, has already established himself as one of the most respected captains in the NHL, and just like many of the Montreal Canadiens legends that came before him, he prefers to lead by example.

And that level of respect goes beyond his teammates and opponents.

Referees also understand that Suzuki is the type of captain that will not complain, whine, or denigrate them in a situation that does not call for it.

Rather, he prefers to offer them the level of respect necessary to endure the rigours of an 82-game season, particularly from an officiating standpoint, pointing to his cerebral approach to all things hockey.

Prior to being named the youngest captain in team history, there were some concerns as to Suzuki’s ability to lead, a perfectly normal concern considering the importance of his role in a hockey-crazed market.

Now that he’s had a chance to put his mark on the team, not only has Suzuki put the concerns to bed, he’s also kept the locker room drama to a minimum throughout the most difficult stages of the rebuild.

Despite his lack of experience, I’d argue that Suzuki has already improved his odds of being included in the Pantheon of great Canadiens leaders, but more importantly, he has established a level of trust and dedication from all in the organization, without ever having to raise his voice.

Suzuki undeniably led the Habs to a surprise playoff appearance last season, a feat that required a captain who commands respect rather than demanding it, a key distinction in evaluating effective leadership.

It’s safe to say his teammates, young and old, are ready to follow his lead.