Montreal Canadiens name Nick Suzuki team captain

The Montreal Canadiens have named forward Nick Suzuki their 31st captain in franchise history.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis announced the captaincy decision Monday morning at the team’s annual golf tournament in Laval, Quebec.

Shortly thereafter, Suzuki made his first public appearance with the “C” on his chest.

Brendan Gallagher and Joel Edmundson will serve as alternate captains for the Canadiens in 2022–23.

Suzuki, 23, previously wore an “A” for the Canadiens and recently signed an eight-year, $63 million contract extension with the team. His new deal will take effect this coming season.

The Canadiens acquired Suzuki, then a top prospect with no NHL experience, from the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018 as part of the deal that sent former Habs captain Max Pacioretty to the Strip.

Suzuki emerged as a regular with the Canadiens in 2019–20. The following year, he paced the team with seven goals and 16 points in 22 playoff games en route to a surprise appearance in the 2021 Stanley Cup Final.

In 2021–22, Suzuki led the last-place Canadiens in scoring with a career-high 61 points (21 goals, 40 assists) in 82 games. He was the only player to appear in every game for the injury- and COVID-ravaged Canadiens.

Suzuki succeeds Shea Weber as captain of the Canadiens. The rugged defender wore the “C” in Montreal from 2018 to 2021 before unofficially retiring for health reasons. The Canadiens did not have an on-ice captain in 2021–22, although Suzuki, Gallagher, Paul Byron, Tyler Toffoli, Jeff Petry, and Ben Chiarot all spent time as alternates.