MONTREAL – If you’ve spent any time on Habs social media in the past few years, chances are you’ve seen Adam Nicholas in action.
On any given practice day, clips of the Canadiens’ director of hockey development make rounds, usually featuring one-on-one drills, nonstop teaching and enough energy to power the entire rink. He’s often one of the first on the ice and last to leave. But besides that, you might wonder exactly what Nicholas does. So, we asked him.
“I work and have tentacles within the coaching staff, analytics and sports science departments,” Nicholas told the Canadiens content team in an exclusive interview in late March. “Basically, what I do is use all those resources to best help develop the players and develop our style of brand with [Martin St-Louis] and work with the sports science to be able to enhance our players off the ice as well.”
You might also wonder what it’s like working with St-Louis. So, we asked him that too.
“The number one thing that I really enjoy is his emotional intelligence. He’s not too high, not too low,” the 40-year-old explained. “He knows how to deliver things in a precise way, and I just think that’s such an art that so many coaches don’t pay attention to. They’re always so focused on the schema, the X’s and O’s.
“I think his ability, his awareness, and his pulse on how to deliver messages—and when to deliver messages—has been such a rewarding thing for me to watch, witness, and be a part of. And then his staff, and how he treats everybody: he empowers people, he asks for opinions, he’s not closed off. But at the end of the day, he’s a great filter too. He doesn’t take everybody’s suggestions. He knows how to filter it and guide it in the best way possible. I find that very rewarding and enjoyable to be around.”
Nicholas’ real passion, however, lies within the work he does with the players. So, we asked him about a few in particular: Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson. Here’s what he had to say.
Please note some questions and answers have been modified for clarity and conciseness.
What makes Cole Caufield such an elite goalscorer?
What makes anyone elite at anything is they have a short-term memory. They don’t get too caught up on the failures; they don’t get too caught up on the successes; they’re just on to the next. When you get a lot of frequency and you get a lot of shots like Cole does, he has his opportunities and he’s thinking “shoot.” His intention drives his action. This guy is a cold-blooded killer. He wants to score. He views scoring as his excitement in the world. When you have that ability to do that, and then you know that you’re not just going to get one shot, you’re going to get multiple shots, you never hang your hat on the highs and the lows of shooting. He just hangs his hat on the next: “Let’s get the next one.” That’s what allows elite goal scorers and shooters in basketball and golfers—it’s just the next. It doesn’t matter what happened prior, it’s just the next.
You’ve watched Nick Suzuki for a few years. He continues to get better and better. From your viewpoint, what's it been like watching his growth and progression?
Nick Suzuki, I labeled two years ago, “The Cognition King.” His ability to process and pattern recall and be highly predictable, but execute in that predictability, that’s what separates him. He knows what’s coming. He knows what type of defenders he’s going to be taking on, and that’s what allows him his edge. And he can recall every little thing that he’s doing. That’s why, when you watch him work on subtlety drills and little micro touches, you can see him visualizing the game as he’s trying to work on his movement. It’s not about just moving to move; it’s moving with intention, and that’s what separates Suzuki. Everything he does is with a purpose because he knows in the game he’s going to apply and execute.
Lane Hutson has broken records left and right. He has all the talent in the world. His work ethic is off the charts. Can you talk a little bit about him?
Lane Hutson’s work ethic is what separates him. A lot of players can skate, dart, and do fancy things, but this guy is relentless, and that’s what drives him. That’s a skill that I feel is missing with many young athletes today, is his ability to be that hungry, whether it’s in practice, whether it’s in the game. There’s no off switch. This guy, it’s Game 7 every day, and he wants to condition himself, and he does it all the time. So that’s why, when you watch him, you don’t see a lot of fatigue in his game. And yeah, he’s a brilliant player, high-level hockey IQ, but then when you couple that with his ability to be relentless and be undeniable, now you’re talking about someone that really is a winner. Those are winner traits.
