What the Canadiens’ Young Trio Are Teaching Fans This Season
Watching the Montreal Canadiens lately, there’s one story you can’t ignore: the emergence of their young core. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky are not just scoring points — they’re reshaping how this team looks on the ice, and giving Canadiens fans reasons to dream about a deeper postseason run.
Suzuki Is the Canadiens’ Engine.
Nick Suzuki has been carrying the team’s engine. In the last 10 games, he’s recorded seven multi-point efforts, including four goals and 12 assists. That’s not just volume — it’s consistency. He’s hitting all parts of the stat sheet too: 118 shots on goal, 43 hits, 47 blocked shots, plus-26 rating through 55 games. At 26, he’s on pace for a career-high 90 points. The workhorse, Suzuki’s vision and poise make everything around him click. He’s the kind of player who makes his teammates better, and Montreal is seeing that every night.
Caufield Has Scored 12 Goals in January.
Cole Caufield is giving fans another reason to sit a little taller in their seats. He’s netted 12 goals in January alone, the most by a Canadiens player in a single month since Guy Lafleur in 1979. Over the last eight games, he’s scored in seven, tallying 11 goals and 14 points. Caufield’s speed, shot, and timing make him lethal in tight spaces, and he’s starting to show that he can take over games rather than jump on them. He’s small but fearless, and his scoring touch can turn a mediocre night into a highlight reel.
Slafkovsky Has Already Passed Henri Richard.
Juraj Slafkovsky is showing that size and skill can coexist at a high level. At just 21, he’s already climbed past Henri Richard for the second-most goals in Canadiens history at that age, only behind Stephane Richer. In January, he’s collected 16 points in 16 games, with three points in the recent win over the Sabres. Slafkovsky’s ability to use his frame to protect the puck and still release precise shots gives Montreal a different kind of threat — one that’s hard to contain in tight playoff matchups.
By Themselves, The Canadiens’ Youngsters Are Great. Together Greater.
Individually, they’re impressive. Together, they form a nucleus capable of changing the tone of a series. Suzuki orchestrates, Caufield finishes, Slafkovsky creates chaos. That combination is rare; it might just give Montreal a chance to go deeper than a first-round exit.”
The question now is whether this trio can translate regular-season chemistry into playoff resilience. Do they have the grit, awareness, and ability to sustain it under pressure — to carry Montreal deeper than many expect? If these three keep trending upward, this might be a season we look back on as the moment the Canadiens’ young core started to define a new era.