Nick Suzuki Injury Ends Iron Man Streak and Leaves Huge Hole for Montreal Canadiens

On Thursday morning, the Montreal Canadiens made an announcement that the NHL newswire has never seen before. Their captain is injured and will be out for two to four weeks. The Nick Suzuki injury ends his iron man streak at 546 games, and creates a crater-size hole in the Montreal Canadiens lineup.

Nick Suzuki was the 13th overall pick of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Just over a year later, on September 10, 2018, Suzuki was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in a package to acquire Max Pacioretty . Following the trade, Suzuki played one more season in the Ontario Hockey League. He made the Montreal Canadiens team in the 2019-20 season without playing one game in the American Hockey League.

On October 12, 2021, the Montreal Canadiens signed Nick Suzuki to an eight-year, $63 million contract. This contract would become the cornerstone of team-friendly contracts signed by their core, allowing the Canadiens to maintain a solid cap structure and open options for adding contracts to strengthen their team. The latest was when Ivan Demidov extended this past summer.

Suzuki has played 546 regular season games for the Montreal Canadiens, and 56 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has never missed one game due to injury until now, ending his iron man streak at 546 games.

Concerns Growing as Nick Suzuki Injury Leaves Hole a Centre

There is not one player on the Montreal Canadiens whose absence will be felt more than the absence of Nick Suzuki. Suzuki was named the Habs 31st captain before the start of the 2022-23 season, identifying him as the face of the newly rebuilt Canadiens. His leadership will be missed in the room, along with his production on the ice. Suzuki scored 101 points last season, and already has 12 points in nine games in this season.

His loss will also be felt because of an already thin centre group, and an ailing top six. Montreal was actively trying to add a top-six centre this past summer to support Suzuki, without success. Then top-six forward Ivan Demidov was lost to injury , thinning the top six further. Coach Martin St. Louis will be forced to be very creative in designing his lines in Suzuki's absence.

The Canadiens have also been rumoured to be interested in centreman Dylan Larkin , while also actively exploring other options. The Nick Suzuki injury may intensify their urgency to make a trade to strengthen their top six. Such a move will prove challenging since other teams will be more likely to offer an anchor than a life jacket in this situation.

Nick Suzuki Injury Opens Door for Owen Beck

Just yesterday, with Florian Xhekaj set to return to the lineup following a brief injury, Owen Beck was loaned back to the Laval Rocket. This morning, after announcing the Nick Suzuki injury, the Canadiens followed up with an announcement that they had recalled Owen Beck.

Beck is not an option to join the top six and provide any sort of relief. But he may be able to fill a fourth line role while one of the veterans climbs the depth chart to try and an hold things together while Suzuki is sidelined.

The Nick Suzuki injury came as an unwelcome surprise to fans of the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. The Habs have not had to play without Suzuki since their rebuild began, and they are about to find out just how important he is to their success. This is an opportunity for other players on the roster to step up and help replace what he brings to the table. It is also a chance for management to show how creative they can be in the face of challenge, and add reinforcements to their group.