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Overview of testimonials from Canadian players the day after the end of the season

No World Championship for Suzuki…

Nick Suzuki is the Canadian’s iron man and, precisely, after 82 games, he has played enough. The 22-year-old Ontario center said he would not participate in the World Championship, scheduled for two weeks in Finland, “due to injuries”. His explanation holds water, since at the end of the season he was less and less diligent in training sessions, even if he was finally the only Habs player to play all the games of the campaign. Suzuki has not missed a duel since joining the NHL in the fall of 2019, a streak of 209 straight games. “I started having lower back pain during a game,” he said. It was painful for a few games, I wasn’t sure if I was going to have to take a break. But the team exempted me from training, it helped a lot. The days between games were really important. Suzuki, however, assured that he felt good and had no more problems in the last “seven or eight” games.

…nor for Caufield

At his side during the meeting with the media, his friend, companion, good friend and old comrade, Cole Caufield, also revealed that he would not represent his country at the World Championship. Earlier this week, he said USA Hockey contacted him. “It’s my decision, that of the people around me. It’s better that I focus on the off-season. I didn’t have much time last summer, it was hard for everyone. It’s the best decision so that I can be 100% next season. »

Romanov stays on the mainland

The situation was, shall we say, complicated, but Alexander Romanov met with the media on Saturday. According to our compilation, this is a first since January 13. Obviously, the situation is delicate for him since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, since any criticism of the war could be worth repercussions to those close to him. So Romanov showed up with an interpreter, and the team asked to avoid questions about the war. The young defender nevertheless indicated that he would not return to Russia this summer, and that he would spend the off-season in the Montreal region or in the United States. He still showed himself to be relatively comfortable in English, even making the audience laugh when he explained what he needed to improve. “I have to manage my energy, try not to sprint to nowhere. It’s a bit stupid! »

Byron bets his all

The season has been frustrating for the Canadian. For everyone, but probably especially for veterans whose last year was plagued by injuries. For example Paul Byron. Left hip surgery last summer forced him to miss the first three months of the season and, just before he was ready to play, an outbreak of COVID-19 at home followed by a complete break from team activities pushed back its return to the end of January. The experience lasted 27 games and ended in pain. His left hip, swollen, made him suffer martyrdom. He tried to compensate by leaning more on his right hip, which caused muscle tears. Two weeks ago, “getting out of bed and walking was very hard”. He is better, he assures us, but he was starting from afar, so he still has “a lot of work” to do.

Drouin reckons he’ll be ready in September

Jonathan Drouin has never played all 82 games in an NHL season, but he hopes the next one will be the right one. The Quebec striker, recently operated on on his right wrist, showed an optimistic air during the Canadian’s assessment and he believes that he will be ready when training camp opens in September. In fact, according to his estimate, he should be able to return to form in mid-July, he who appeared before the journalists with a splint on his right wrist. “I shouldn’t have any more problems with my wrists…because I only have two!” he joked back. It’s not ideal not to be able to play because of injuries, as it was for me this season. Injured, you spend time with the club, but you’re not really with the team, so it can get a bit long. »

Allen ready for anything

The uncertainty surrounding the future of Carey Price necessarily has a direct impact on that of Jake Allen. For two years, each time Price is injured, it is his deputy who logically inherits almost all of the departures. Conversely, after seeing a lot of action since his arrival in Montreal, the former St. Louis Blues could be relegated to the end of the bench if, by some miracle, his partner fully regains form. Allen claims to have accumulated enough experience, in nine years in the league, to be ready to “handle all situations”. “I did not expect to [jouer autant] Neither will this year, he pointed out. Whether I play 50 or 20 games, my preparation is the same. The 31-year-old goalkeeper (32 in August) nevertheless conceded that he could learn to manage his own workload better. His agent lamented a few weeks ago that his many consecutive departures may have been the cause of his most recent groin injury. “I should say that if I need a night off,” Allen said. But at the same time, I want to be in front of the net. I am like this. »

Gallagher is not seen elsewhere

There are still five years left on Brendan Gallagher’s contract with the Canadiens, and the small forward has every intention of seeing it through, even if the next few years may look like something akin to a bit of reconstruction at the Bell Centre. “I accepted a six-year contract here because I like this team and this city too, said the player at number 11. It’s been very frustrating this season for us, but that doesn’t change my desire to remain a member of the Canadiens or my desire to be a winner with this team. I hope we can get back to where we were last season…” Gallagher also declined the offer from Team Canada for the World Championship. “After the long season we had a year ago, I had a fairly brief summer off, and it seems my body struggled with that. So I would like to contribute to the success of our national team, but I have to recover. »

Deputies: status quo

Martin St-Louis indicated that he planned to renew the mandate of all his assistants. “I’m very comfortable, they are good hockey guys, good people who are not afraid to give their opinion. We work very well together,” he said. The question arises, because on the one hand, St-Louis inherited Dominique Ducharme’s assistants, and on the other hand, the special units have struggled. The CH ended the season at 31^and ranked in the NHL on the power play with a 13.7% success rate, and at 27^and shorthanded rank (75.6%). St-Louis was also asked about the future of Éric Raymond, the goaltending coach, who is a long-time collaborator of Ducharme. “I haven’t really spoken to my coaches yet,” replied the head coach. According to me, [il revient]. I think he’s under contract. I don’t know how many years of contract he has. I liked all my coaches. Obviously, before discussing the assistants, it would be necessary that the return of St-Louis itself be confirmed, but to hear him and to hear his boss, it seems that an agreement for next year is a formality.