If Nick Suzuki is dealing with something, the Olympics and a busy schedule leave him no time to heal

According to some, Nick Suzuki has been dealing with something, and it showed on the ice. Over the past few weeks (aside from the most recent game), the Montreal Canadiens captain appeared to be playing while bothered.

The starting point keeps coming back to the same moment. Suzuki was reportedly affected after blocking a shot earlier this season, and there was talk of a lower-body injury. Is it still that?

Le Journal de Montréal even mentioned a right foot, which lined up with the repeated treatments. What made it worrying was the combination of all that with the pressure.

Suzuki was being watched closely for Team Canada, and he himself recently acknowledged that it was weighing on him. When you want to prove your place, you play, even when it burns.

In the end, he won his bet, was selected to Team Canada, and had his best game in a long time (in Florida).

From a numbers standpoint, he remains solid regardless. He has 44 points in 39 games, with 13 goals and 31 assists. He is still playing heavy minutes and continues to take important faceoffs.

His contract, meanwhile, does not change. Suzuki is signed for eight years at 63 million, with a cap hit of 7.875 M$ per season. At 26 years old, he is the guy you want healthy when the race tightens.

Is the rumor true? For now, it sounds more like a player playing through something than a player on the sidelines, but I repeat that his game against the Florida Panthers was VERY reassuring.

And in your opinion, is the captain dealing with a minor issue?

That really wouldn't be ideal, especially with very busy weeks coming up for him.