Nick Suzuki’s weekend with the Canadiens ended the way it had to: with a return to Montreal and a focus on recovery.
Suzuki, who is dealing with an upper-body injury, will head back home after the Heritage Classic instead of sticking with the team for the rest of its road trip. He may already be in Montreal.
There was still a meaningful moment in Winnipeg, where Suzuki and Samuel Montembeault were around the club to support their teammates. Ivan Demidov, meanwhile, remained in Montreal.
The sight of Suzuki with the team for the Heritage Classic offered a nice snapshot for the captain and his family, but the injury changes the plan. He is expected to miss two to four weeks, with November 18 the earliest possible return date.
Before getting hurt, Suzuki had been driving the offense. The Canadiens’ leading scorer had 12 points in nine games and a plus-6 rating.
According to Renaud Lavoie, Suzuki wasn’t fully healthy even before the injury, which makes this stretch away from the ice even more important for his recovery. Heading home gives him the chance to work with the medical staff and spend more time with his family.
In the meantime, Montreal keeps rolling without him. The Canadiens are 6-3-2 after beating Chicago 4-1 and following that up with a 2-1 win over Winnipeg.
The trip continues Tuesday in St. Louis and Thursday in Dallas, while Suzuki watches from Montreal and continues his rehab. For a 27-year-old who had played 546 straight games before this setback, taking the time to heal is the obvious move.
The Canadiens want him back at full strength. For now, his teammates are making sure he has plenty to smile about.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Painful Goalie Decision As Montembeault Nears Return
Samuel Montembeaults return is getting closer, and for the Canadiens that means the calendar is starting to squeeze a goaltending picture that was already crowded. Jacob Fowler has taken over as the primary option in net, while the organization has tried to manage its depth with Montembeault and Jakub Dobes both still on the roster.
The complication is that Montreal cannot simply shuffle its way out of the problem. Montembeault and Dobes would have to clear waivers to go to Laval, and with Montembeaults contract set to expire next summer, the front office is staring at a decision that could shape both the present and the near future. Recent signings around the league may also make the trade market less straightforward than it looked a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Draw A Firm Line As Trade Push Heats Up
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Montreals willingness to explore deals has clearly not changed its view of Hages value, and that matters for a club trying to balance the present with the future. The Canadiens also had a timely boost on the ice, edging the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in the 2026 NHL Heritage Classic behind Jacob Fowlers 33-save effort, but the bigger question for the organization may be how far it is willing to go when rival teams come asking for help. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Cheap Forward Option Worth Watching
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What makes the situation interesting for Montreal is the kind of return that may be required. The market appears to be pointing toward draft-pick territory rather than a major prospect haul, which is exactly the sort of move that could appeal to a team trying to patch a roster hole without sacrificing its long-term flexibility. For now, no trade has been completed, but the Canadiens are at least in the range of a deal that could bring in another affordable option up front. [Read more 🡒]