The Montreal Canadiens have announced their leadership group ahead of the 2022-23 NHL regular season - including a captain and two assistants

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Tyler
September 12, 2022 (6:42 PM)

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Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have been somewhat of a revelation since taking over the Canadiens, dealing players for prospects and picks and clearing cap.

One of the biggest decisions that has been seemingly looming, is the announcement of the new captain after Weber's departure to ltir, then promptly to the Golden Knights in the trade which saw Dadonov coming to Montreal.

Well the Canadiens, along with Kent Hughes and co., made a big announcement early Monday morning. The club will be heading into the season with a newly minted captain, and two assistants, rather than the four that they opted for in 2021-22.

The distinguished honour of captain was given to the clubs number one centre - Nick Suzuki, and while their had been rumblings and an array of question marks, Canadiens management went ahead with the youth movement. Suzuki is the youngest captain in the illustrious history of �Le bleu, blanc et rouge'.

The London, Ontario., native was a stud in junior with the Owen Sound Attack and Guelph Storm, both in the OHL. He earned many regular season and playoff distinctions, among clutch performances, which earned Suzuki the distinction of being a 2017 NHL Draft top prospect. The Vegas Golden Knights selected Suzuki with their second of three first-round picks in the draft with selection number 13 overall selection.

Suzuki, 23, has spent the last two seasons with the Canadiens, providing an all situations, do-it-all centreman whose defensive and offensive play put him in the organization good graces.

Last season the young centre played all 82 games, scoring 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points. 2021-22 was Suzuki's third season with the team, which total's his entire young NHL career, thus far. Over his first three seasons, he has totalled 209 games played; accumulating 49 goals and 94 assists, for 143 career points.

Suzuki becomes the 31st captain in Canadiens history, joining a loaded list of Canadiens and hockey hall of famers.

Joining Suzuki as part of the Habs 2022-23 season leadership group, as assistant captains; are long-time Canadiens player Brendan Gallagher and former St. Louis Blue, whose played in Montreal for the past two seasons, Joel Edmundson.