Cowan: Canadian Suzuki played an important role in the emergence of Slafkowski

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Nick Suzuki continues to show that Canadiens management made the right decision when they made him the youngest captain in franchise history before the start of last season.

On the ice, Suzuki is having a career-best 33-42-75 season in 78 games. The 24-year-old needs five points in his last four games to become the first Canadian to score 80 points in a season since Alex Kovalev went 35-49-84 in 2007-08.

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On the ice, Suzuki continues to live up to the “C” on his jersey as a quiet captain who leads by example. He is reminiscent of former Canadian captain Saku Koivu, both on and off the ice.

But Suzuki isn't afraid to speak up. Last Saturday at Hockey Night in Canada, former NHLer Kevin Bieksa Suzuki said he visited head coach Martin St. Louis in November and wanted Juraj Slafkowski to play alongside Cole Caufield because he felt he could help the No. 1 team. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft after a slow start to his season.

When Bieksa Suzuki was asked about this, the captain replied: “I see a lot from Slaf's game. I thought it was a good fit. Since we've been playing together, I think he's really challenged me and Cole, playing against the top guys, and we've had a lot of chemistry and a lot of success lately.”

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Slafkowski recorded his first NHL hat trick in the 20-year-old's 19-29-48 career in 78 games in a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at the Bell Center on Tuesday night. Slafkowski has been in the No. 1 row with Suzuki and Caufield since early December. Slafkowski is 15-18-33 in his last 36 games.

In Tuesday night's postgame press conference, I asked St.Louis about Bieksa's report about Suzuki asking HNIC to play Slafkowski.

“Honestly, I don't remember it happening,” the coach said. “I don't remember that. Now, shall I lean on Susie and ask for some thoughts and opinions from my captain? Absolutely. So I'm not surprised that it happened in the conversation. But I don't remember Susie walking into my office and demanding it. But I'm pretty sure it was the story that was the subject of the story.

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“But despite all that talk, Susie has acted like a captain all year,” St. Louis added. “He becomes his own leader. He doesn't try to be someone he's not. It will continue to develop in this section. Although you develop off the ice in this department, to me a key part of being a leader is how you conduct yourself on the ice. He leads by example, not just in the game. If anyone is watching our experience and stuff, it's a leader.”

Brendan Gallagher was a strong contender to captain after Shea Weber's career ended due to injury. But Gallagher was delighted for Suzuki when he was officially named captain at the Canadians' annual golf tournament before the start of last season.

“He's a young player but he's very mature and most importantly he's got the respect of every guy in that dressing room and he's the heartbeat of our team,” Gallagher said. “We couldn't be happier for him, we couldn't be more excited to support him. It's a proud day for him and his family and we're excited to share it.”

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After Tuesday night's game, Gallagher talked about how Suzuki was much more than a leader with the team.

“When it comes to the best players in the world right now, he's in that category … he's in that category,” said Gallagher, whose two goals against the Flyers gave him 13 goals on the season. “He's a guy who impacts the game with and without the puck, and at the end of the day, he's there on the ice. We use it in every situation. He's one of those guys in the league and not on every team. We do and we are very happy. I think he continues to take his game to another level every year. There are really no holes or weaknesses. It just keeps getting better.”

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So does Slafkowski – and he gives Suzuki a lot of credit for that.

“He's always trying to give me some tips and tricks,” Slafkowski said after the hat trick. “He is always with me. No matter what happens, even if I make a mistake, he says, “Whatever. We will go there again,' he said. Try to make plays every time to be myself.

“He's a great captain and a great person,” Slafkowski added. “I'm really lucky to be part of it.”

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