The Montreal Canadiens surprised many on Monday by trading forward Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames. But for Nick Suzuki, the message from management was clear: the Habs are officially entering a reconstruction phase.
Suzuki played on the same trio as Toffoli before the transaction, and the veteran had taken him under his wing during the long CH playoff run last summer. He therefore knew him very well, and admitted to having been shaken by his departure.
“It’s hard to lose a good friend and a good teammate. The guys will miss him (in the locker room). He will at least have the opportunity to win again. It’s part of the “business”; trades are commonplace not only among professional players, but also in the junior ranks. You never know when it can happen, ”said Suzuki in videoconference.
“We are aware of our place in the standings, and we knew there would be changes with the arrival of the new management. All teams go through times like this. It’s only the first… It’s hard to lose ‘Toff’, and it sucks to be on the wrong side of the hockey ‘business’, but it happens,” continued the 22-year-old Ontarian. year.
So, is the Habs under reconstruction? “Yes,” Suzuki replied without hesitation.
Cole Caufield is another young player from the Habs who had developed certain affinities with Toffoli, and he did not hide his disappointment to see him leave.
“We have similar personalities. He likes to have fun, even if he always wants to improve as soon as he puts the skate on the ice. I learned a lot watching him, joking with him. I intend to stay in touch with him, ”said the American, adding that he had done a “Facetime” with him after learning the news of the transaction.
It is in this context that the role of the head coach becomes essential, in order to ensure that the young players of the organization do not lose their good habits in the current turmoil. And that, Martin St-Louis is well aware.
“Tyler Toffoli was an excellent player for the organization, not just on the ice, but off the ice as well. He was very connected with the supporters. Yes, we lost (Shea) Weber, the captain, at the start of the season, but I think that Toffoli was surely the captain, without having the “C”. So we lose a big chunk of leadership, that’s for sure. I have already experienced this as a player, so it is my responsibility, as a coach, to assume the role of leader, ”he explained.
Especially when you know that several other veterans, who until recently were part of the group of leaders of the Canadian, could find themselves very soon under other skies. But that, St-Louis has nothing to do.
“My goal right now is to teach those who are here. I will control what I can control. My “job” right now is not to take care of those who are leaving and those who are arriving. My “job” is to make sure that we progress every day, and that I teach how we want to play the “game”, ”said the 46-year-old Quebecer.
St. Louis, however, hasn’t forgotten what he went through as a player after the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, when the organization was forced to undertake a similar rebuilding process. .
“Leaders have decisions to make to improve their team today, tomorrow and in two years. But me, as a player, I never gave up because we were starting a process of reconstruction. Me, the year was starting and I found myself a source of motivation, of pride. Whether it’s guys looking for a new contract, or guys who want to play a bigger role in the team, there are a lot of things that can motivate you. And as a coach here, I have to focus on what I control, which is teaching and the way we play,” said St-Louis.
The future of the Canadiens therefore rests in the hands of its young players. Which leads Suzuki, who signed an eight-year, US$63 million contract with the Canadiens last October, to believe that better days are ahead.
“We have a lot of good young players in the organization, and more will join us next year through the draft. The future is bright for this team. I’m very happy to be here, in Montreal, and I want to win here. I hope it won’t take five years to rebuild, ”said the only CH representative during the last NHL All-Star Game.
It should be noted that the general manager of the Canadiens Kent Hughes is scheduled to meet with members of the media on Wednesday to provide an update on the current situation.