Nick Suzuki Reflects on Olympic Heartbreak and Growth
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki returned to practice this week carrying both Olympic silver and valuable lessons from the Milano Cortina Games. Despite Canada's heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA in the gold-medal final, the 26-year-old center believes the international experience will significantly benefit his professional development.
The Quiet Aftermath of Olympic Defeat
"It was pretty silent for a long time," Suzuki described the Team Canada locker room following the championship game. "There was kind of a weird setup where we have to get off the ice and do media right away and then everyone's going into the day room, grabbing their stuff and walking back to the room, which is like a five-minute walk. So it's a bit odd."
The Canadiens captain added that approximately thirty minutes after the game, players finally gathered in one room. "There wasn't a lot said," Suzuki recalled. "Just kind of reflecting and then we started having a couple of drinks and trying to get out of our sadness."
Olympic Performance and Takeaways
Despite the disappointing finish, Suzuki made significant contributions throughout the tournament, scoring two goals in six games. His most crucial tally came with just 3:27 remaining in the third period of Canada's quarterfinal matchup against Czechia, tying the game and setting up an eventual 4-3 overtime victory.
When asked about his biggest Olympic takeaway, Suzuki offered a sobering perspective: "Probably that it's really hard to win. You feel like you did everything you can to put yourself in a position to win and still it doesn't result. It was a tough feeling. Everyone gave it their all and it was an honour to be a part of that."
Learning from Sidney Crosby's Leadership
One of the most valuable aspects of Suzuki's Olympic experience was the opportunity to observe and learn from Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby. As the youngest captain in Canadiens franchise history when he received the honor at age 23, Suzuki paid close attention to how the Penguins legend approaches leadership.
"I learned a lot just from being around him," Suzuki explained. "How he interacts with his teammates and in the room. He's very serious and takes everything and tries to do it the best that he can. I didn't really try to pick his brain too much, just a lot of watching from the side."
Suzuki particularly noted Crosby's approachable nature despite his legendary status: "He's been through it all. Every fan, anybody that came up to him, he's got the time for everybody. I think that's pretty cool to see a guy like that that's been doing it for 25 years probably, even when he was a kid. He hasn't changed."
Returning to NHL Duties with Renewed Focus
Now back with the Canadiens, Suzuki shifts his attention to helping Montreal secure a second consecutive playoff appearance. The center leads his team in scoring with 65 points (18 goals, 47 assists) through 57 games, ranking him 12th overall in NHL scoring.
"It's been a whirlwind, for sure," Suzuki said of the transition from international competition back to the NHL schedule. "It feels like I've been gone like a month. I feel good. I'm thankfully coming back with no injuries or anything and just trying to feel as good as I can coming back from the jet lag."
The Olympic experience has left Suzuki hungry for more international opportunities and determined to finish the NHL season strong. "It affects everything positively," he said of his time in Italy. "Learned a lot, got to be around those guys, ask them a lot of questions. In practice such a high level and you just want to continue that and once you get a taste you really want to be back there and be on those teams all the time."
As Suzuki prepares for Thursday's game against the New York Islanders, he carries not just Olympic silver but valuable insights that could prove instrumental in both his leadership development and on-ice performance during the crucial stretch of the NHL season.
