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Nick Suzuki is happy concerning the upcoming season after the Canadiens completed dead-last within the NHL final season.

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“I feel I’m most enthusiastic about form of proving folks incorrect,” Suzuki mentioned throughout a one-on-one video interview Monday. “I feel folks have actually put us down. I used to be truly speaking to (Sean) Monahan about our lineup. We’ve bought a fairly deep staff and I feel individuals are actually underestimating us. That’s not a foul factor, both. I feel we’re going to shock folks.”

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Monahan is likely one of the new gamers Kent Hughes delivered to Montreal throughout what was a busy summer season for the Canadiens’ basic supervisor. Others embody Evgeni Dadonov, Kirby Dach, Mike Matheson and Juraj Slafkovaky, the No. 1 general choose on the NHL Draft. Younger prospects Jordan Harris, Justin Barron and Kaiden Guhle will even be battling for a spot within the lineup when coaching camp begins in mid-September.

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“He has appeared to make a number of strategic strikes,” Suzuki mentioned about Hughes. “We’ve misplaced a couple of nice guys within the room, guys that I bought fairly shut with. However I feel the staff and the path that we’re heading proper now’s actually promising and I feel the followers and the gamers see that. They undoubtedly have an enormous plan forward for us and we’re simply form of using the wave there.”

Suzuki can also be enthusiastic about head coach Martin St. Louis having a full coaching camp after taking up from Dominique Ducharme halfway via final season.

Suzuki has spent all summer season in Montreal and this week is collaborating within the BioSteel NHL Camp as he will get prepared for coaching camp and the upcoming season.

“That is across the time the place it picks up much more,” Suzuki mentioned about his coaching. “You wish to get in recreation form as fast as doable. Camp’s nonetheless going to be exhausting, however the extra you do earlier than it’s going that can assist you out a ton. That is brand-new … my first time. I simply bought on with BioSteel this summer season, truly.”

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Right here’s a few of the different subjects Suzuki talked about throughout Monday’s interview.

On the opportunity of Slafkovsky changing into his linemate, together with Cole Caufield:

“We’ve been coaching collectively (Suzuki and Slafkovsky) for the final couple of weeks, skating collectively. So it’s been a number of enjoyable attending to know him and all the opposite prospects. He’s an incredible man … he’s a number of enjoyable to be round. On the ice he’s loads larger than I imagined. I feel he’s doing the best issues. He’s working actually exhausting so he’s going to return into camp fairly prepared and we’ll see how that shapes up for the traces.

“The one factor that I actually seen is that he likes to cross. He’s not seeking to simply shoot the puck each time. He desires to make performs, he desires to get to the online. So I feel that will complement us very well. Clearly, we’re all going to should play good for Marty to place us on a line collectively, so we’ll see what occurs sooner or later.”

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Has he saved in contact with St. Louis this summer season?

“I’ve talked to him a little bit bit. We had been simply chatting on the draft and I’ve had a few calls with him this summer season … he’s simply checking in. I’m actually excited for camp. I feel there’s a number of good vitality coming into camp from the gamers and on the teaching aspect. I feel everybody’s able to get again. It’s undoubtedly been an extended summer season and I’m excited to see all the blokes and get again to work with them.”

On the management classes he discovered from former captain Shea Weber:

“I discovered a ton from Shea. Simply the best way he dealt with himself within the rink, away from the rink, how he interacts with all of the gamers — from the older guys to the youthful guys. He did such a great job of taking me in once I first got here to the staff. Simply somebody to look as much as straight away. Simply his presence within the room — when to talk up or when to do one thing together with your actions. Stuff like that … simply studying from Shea was a ton of enjoyable for me and I nonetheless keep up a correspondence with him as we speak. So I’m all the time going to have him behind me.”

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On the chance Carey Value’s profession could possibly be over due to his injured knee:

“I had dinner with him in the summertime when he got here to Montreal. It’s a troublesome scenario for him. I do know he’s been battling that damage for some time. We’ve all seen him put the work in to attempt to come again and when he was again with us final yr on the finish it appeared like such a clean transition. All of us love enjoying in entrance of him and hopefully his restoration can go properly and who is aware of? Possibly we’ll have him again. I don’t actually know his standing too properly.”

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