Nick Suzuki

Early Life and Junior Career

Nicholas Masaru James Suzuki was born in London, Ontario, to parents Rob and Amanda. His early childhood involved several health challenges, including hand, foot, and mouth disease, pneumonia due to respiratory syncytial virus, and recurrent ear infections that required surgery to insert tympanostomy tubes. His health improved as he grew older, and he began ice skating at the age of three. He befriended his neighbour Isaac Ratcliffe, and the two began playing sports together when they were eight years old, playing ice hockey in the winter and golf and soccer in the summer.

They played minor ice hockey for the London Jr. Knights, leading their team to the semifinals of the annual OHL Cup. After leading the ALLIANCE league with 34 goals and 68 points in 31 games, Suzuki was named the ALLIANCE Hockey Player of the Year for the 2014-15 season. Selected in the first round, 14th overall, by the Owen Sound Attack in the 2015 OHL priority selection draft, Suzuki signed with the team that June. He made his OHL debut in the 2015-16 season, scoring his first major junior goal against the Kitchener Rangers on September 25.

He became the first Attack rookie to score 20 goals in his 16-year-old season since Joey Hishon in 2008, finishing with 20 goals and 38 points in 63 games. He was the only 16-year-old in the OHL that season to score 20 or more goals. After adding two goals in six playoff games, he was named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team at centre. His second OHL season in 2016-17 established him as a top NHL prospect, and by mid-December he had tied his previous season high of 20 goals.

He was named to Team Cherry at the 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and was ranked the 16th North American skating prospect in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's midterm report. He finished the regular season with 45 goals and 96 points in 65 games, moving up to 10th in the final Central Scouting rankings. In the playoffs, he added eight goals and 23 points in 17 games as Owen Sound reached the OHL Western Conference Finals, where they were eliminated by the Erie Otters. He was named to the OHL Second All-Star Team and received both the William Hanley Trophy and the CHL Sportsman of the Year award after recording only 10 penalty minutes in 65 games.

In June 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights selected Suzuki 13th overall in the NHL Entry Draft and signed him to an entry-level contract the following month. He attended their training camp before being reassigned to Owen Sound for the 2017-18 season, where he was named an assistant captain. During that season he registered his 200th OHL point on February 3, 2018, and scored his 100th OHL goal on March 10. One week later he earned his 100th point of the season, becoming the fifth Attack player in history to record a 100-point season and the first since Bobby Ryan in 2006-07. He finished with 42 goals and 100 points in 64 games, winning his second consecutive William Hanley Trophy after recording 18 penalty minutes.

Trade to Montreal and Memorial Cup Run

On September 10, 2018, the Vegas Golden Knights traded Suzuki, along with Tomáš Tatar and a second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for veteran forward Max Pacioretty. He attended training camp with the Canadiens before returning to Owen Sound for the 2018-19 season as captain of the Attack. After scoring 22 goals and 45 points in the first 30 games, he was part of another trade on January 9, 2019, that sent himself, Zachary Roberts, and Sean Durzi to the Guelph Storm in exchange for forwards Zachary Pointer and Barret Kirwin, defenceman Mark Woolley, and draft picks. After the trade, a natural centre, Suzuki spent more time on the right wing before being moved back to centre at the end of February with Nate Schnarr and Isaac Ratcliffe on his wings.

This line combined for 19 goals and 48 points in a six-game span, with Suzuki contributing five goals and 20 points. On February 20, he recorded his 300th OHL point with an assist. He finished the season with 34 goals and 94 points in 59 games between the two teams. He was named to the OHL's Third All-Star Team and won his third consecutive William Hanley Trophy after recording just 12 penalty minutes. In the 2019 OHL playoffs, Guelph swept the Kitchener Rangers in the first round, with Suzuki and Ratcliffe combining for six goals and 13 points.

Guelph then fell into a 3-0 series deficit against the London Knights. Suzuki contributed eight points in the next three games to even the series and force a Game 7, which Guelph won. In the OHL Western Conference Finals against the Saginaw Spirit, Guelph came back from a 3-1 deficit, with Suzuki collecting seven goals and 17 points in the seven-game series. In Game 4 of the OHL championship against the Ottawa 67's, Suzuki recorded his 38th postseason point, setting a single-season franchise record for the Storm. Guelph won the J. Ross Robertson Cup in six games, and Suzuki, with 16 goals and 42 points in 24 games, was awarded the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the league's Playoff MVP.

Guelph advanced to the 2019 Memorial Cup after winning the OHL championship. They were defeated in the semifinal by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. In the tournament, Suzuki recorded three goals and seven points. He received the George Parsons Trophy as the tournament's most sportsmanlike player. Suzuki finished his major junior career with 141 goals and 328 points in four OHL seasons between the Owen Sound Attack and the Guelph Storm.

NHL Rookie Season and Stanley Cup Final

After making an impression on general manager Marc Bergevin during training camp, Suzuki was named to the Canadiens' opening-night roster for the 2019-20 season. He made his NHL debut on October 3, 2019, in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. He earned his first career point five days later with an assist on a Joel Armia goal. Suzuki scored his first NHL goal in his seventh game, in a 4-0 shutout victory over the Minnesota Wild, and he and defenceman Victor Mete became the first Montreal teammates to score their first career goals in the same game since Chris Higgins and Alexander Perezhogin in 2005.

Alternating between centre and wing, Suzuki had seven goals and 19 points by the NHL's midseason holiday break. On February 8, 2020, he recorded his 35th point with an assist, becoming the first Montreal rookie to register that many points since Chris Higgins in 2005-06. With four goals and 10 points in February, including a team-leading five power play points, he was awarded the Molson Cup as Montreal's player of the month. When the regular season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suzuki had 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games, and his 41 points were second to Guy Lafleur for the most by any Montreal rookie aged 20 or younger.

In the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs held in Toronto, Suzuki scored his first postseason goal in the first game of the qualifiers against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Canadiens advanced past the qualifiers but lost to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round in six games. Suzuki finished with four goals and seven points in 10 games, tying Jonathan Drouin for the most of any Canadiens skater in that year's playoffs. At the end of the season, he was named to the annual NHL All-Rookie Team. The 2020-21 season began with Suzuki on a six-game point streak on a line with Drouin and Josh Anderson.

Through 18 games, the Canadiens' four centres had scored only eight goals, four of which were from Suzuki. By midseason, he had 18 points in 28 games and was on an eight-game scoring drought. At the NHL trade deadline, Bergevin acquired Eric Staal to act as a mentor for Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. Suzuki also benefited from the late-season addition of Cole Caufield from the University of Wisconsin, and after Caufield set up Suzuki's game-tying goal against the Edmonton Oilers on May 12, Suzuki told reporters the chemistry was there between them. He finished the regular season with 15 goals and 41 points in 56 games.

In the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Canadiens faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. After Toronto took a 3-1 series lead, Suzuki scored the overtime winner in Game 5 to extend the series. Montreal won the series in seven games, then swept the Winnipeg Jets in the second round, with Suzuki contributing four goals and eight points through the first 11 postseason games. The Canadiens lost the series in five games, with Suzuki finishing the postseason with seven goals and 16 points in 22 games.

Contract Extension and Captaincy

On October 12, 2021, Suzuki signed an eight-year, $63 million contract extension with the Canadiens, which carries through the 2029-30 NHL season. He served as one of several alternate captains during the 2021-22 season. After recording four goals and ten points in 14 games, he was presented the Canadiens' Molson Cup for the month of November. On December 7, he collected his 100th career NHL point with an assist in a loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, becoming the ninth-youngest skater to record 100 points with Montreal and doing so in 154 games, the third-fastest of any Canadien since 1996.

In January 2022, Suzuki, who led the team with 19 points in 35 games, was named Montreal's representative for the 2022 NHL All-Star Game in Las Vegas. On February 9, the Canadiens fired head coach Dominique Ducharme and appointed Martin St. Louis on an interim basis. St. Louis soon placed Caufield and Anderson on the top line alongside Suzuki, and in their first game together, the line combined for seven points in a 5-2 win against Toronto. Suzuki's 40th point of the season came on March 5, his 12th point in a seven-game stretch, and he and Caufield were both honoured with the Molson Cup for March after each scoring seven goals in 15 games.

On April 16, Suzuki scored his 20th goal of the season, and his 60th point came on April 27. Although Montreal missed the playoffs, Suzuki set career highs with 21 goals and 61 points, and his 209 consecutive games gave him the seventh-longest iron man streak among active players. He was named the Canadiens' Molson Cup recipient for the season. Prior to the 2022-23 season, on September 12, 2022, Suzuki succeeded Shea Weber as captain of the Canadiens, becoming the 31st captain in franchise history and, at 23 years old, the youngest in team history, with Joel Edmundson and Brendan Gallagher named alternate captains.

The 2022-23 season was a development year for the rebuilding team. Coach St. Louis experimented with different wingers alongside Suzuki and Caufield before Kirby Dach settled into the role. Injuries affected the lineup in the second half, with Caufield ruled out indefinitely due to shoulder surgery and Dach missing time. Suzuki's scoring pace fell off but he had a late-season surge, including a four-game sequence with ten points. He was named the NHL's second star of the week for March 20-26, the first such recognition of his career, and he finished with 26 goals and 66 points, sharing the team goal lead with Caufield. He was the Canadiens' sole representative at the All-Star Game and won the Molson Cup for the second consecutive year.

Career Highs and Olympic Selection

Suzuki began the 2023-24 season with marginal point production in the opening games but improved his totals by late October. On October 30, he played his 300th career NHL game against the Golden Knights, scoring a goal in regulation and the Canadiens' only shootout goal in a 3-2 loss, and to that point, he had seven points in seven career games against Vegas. In early 2024, he was chosen to represent the Canadiens at the All-Star Game for the third consecutive year. He was named the NHL's third star for the week of February 5-11, having recorded four goals and two assists across three games, with points on six of the Canadiens' nine goals in those games.

After a rotation of wingers early in the season, 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovský gradually established himself as a regular on the top line with Suzuki and Caufield, a combination that produced strong results. On March 5, Suzuki scored his 100th career NHL goal, an overtime winner in a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators. He reached the 30-goal threshold on March 28 in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. With two goals in a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers on April 2, he reached 70 points for the first time in his career, becoming the fifth Canadiens player to do so in the salary cap era. He finished the season with a team-leading 33 goals and 77 points, receiving his third consecutive Molson Cup and was also the Canadiens' nominee for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, cited for his charitable efforts and leadership.

In the early stages of the 2024-25 season, Suzuki reached further milestones, registering his 300th career NHL point on November 11, 2024, in a 7-5 win. He was also named to Team Canada's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, marking his first Olympic selection. His international experience includes a gold medal with Team Canada White at the 2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge, participation in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, and the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also won a gold medal with Team Ontario at the 2015 Canada Winter Games and played for the OHL All-Star team in the Canada/Russia Super Series. His overall rating in the EA SPORTS NHL 27 video game was listed as 93.

Playing Style and Personal Life

Nick Suzuki's playing style is defined by high hockey intelligence, crafty puck skills, and exceptional vision, which earned him the nickname 'Slick Nick' early in his career. He is a versatile forward who can play centre or wing and is used in all situations. His sportsmanlike conduct is evidenced by his three William Hanley Trophies and the CHL Sportsman of the Year award from his junior days. As captain, he is noted for his calm demeanour and lead-by-example approach with a young Canadiens roster.

Suzuki maintains a relatively private personal life. He is of Japanese and European descent, and famed Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki is a cousin of his grandfather. His childhood friend and former junior teammate, Isaac Ratcliffe, remains a close connection from their days with the London Jr. Knights. Suzuki's community involvement and charitable efforts in Montreal were cited in his nomination for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.

Questions about Nick Suzuki

When was Nick Suzuki named captain of the Montreal Canadiens?

Nick Suzuki was named the 31st captain in Montreal Canadiens history on September 12, 2022. He succeeded Shea Weber and, at 23 years old, became the youngest captain in the franchise's long history. Veteran players Joel Edmundson and Brendan Gallagher were named alternate captains to support him in his new leadership role. The appointment signified the team's commitment to building its future around his talent and character.

Which team originally drafted Nick Suzuki?

Nick Suzuki was originally drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. He signed an entry-level contract with Vegas but never played a game for them. In September 2018, his rights were traded to the Montreal Canadiens as part of a package for veteran forward Max Pacioretty. He made his NHL debut with the Canadiens at the start of the 2019-20 season.

What are Nick Suzuki's career statistics in the NHL?

As of the 2024-25 season, Nick Suzuki has established himself as a point-per-game calibre centre. He set career highs in the 2023-24 season with 33 goals and 77 points. Key milestones include his 100th NHL goal, scored in March 2024, and his 300th NHL point, achieved in November 2024. He has been a consistent iron man, having played 209 consecutive games at one point, and has represented the Canadiens at multiple NHL All-Star Games.

Has Nick Suzuki played for Team Canada?

Yes, Nick Suzuki has represented Canada at several international tournaments. He won a gold medal with Team Canada White at the 2015 World U17 Hockey Challenge and played in the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. He also suited up for Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship. Most significantly, he was selected to Team Canada's roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where he will make his Olympic debut.

What awards did Nick Suzuki win in junior hockey?

In the Ontario Hockey League, Nick Suzuki won the William Hanley Trophy as the league's most sportsmanlike player three years in a row from 2017 to 2019. He was also named the CHL Sportsman of the Year in 2017. In his final junior season, he led the Guelph Storm to an OHL championship and was awarded the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP. At the 2019 Memorial Cup, he received the George Parsons Trophy as the tournament's most sportsmanlike player.

How did Nick Suzuki perform in the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs?

Nick Suzuki was a central figure in the Montreal Canadiens' run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. He scored seven goals and 16 points in 22 playoff games. This included an overtime winner in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs to stave off elimination. Although Montreal lost the series to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, Suzuki's playoff performance solidified his status as a clutch performer.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-20.