“It’s cool to share that experience with him,” Suzuki said via Zoom on Friday. “We’ve been through a lot together, and it’s just another thing we get to share.”
Here’s some of what else the pair had to say after receiving the news during a joint media availability on Friday afternoon.
Please note that some questions and answers were modified for clarity and conciseness.
Two of the people who have won this award are your coach, Martin St-Louis, three times, and Johnny Gaudreau. This award is about who you are as a person. I’m wondering how both those people have impacted who you’ve become as a person?
Caufield: Obviously, one being my coach and one being a good friend, it's two people who, off the ice, are just as good as people—if not better—than they are on it. They were two unbelievable players, and it just shows their character and how they carry themselves. It’s pretty special. I think, obviously, learning from Marty and seeing how he takes care of the people in the city of Montreal, I don’t think I’ve ever met one person who’s even thought anything bad about either of those guys. And Johnny was just an unbelievable hockey player and person that everybody gravitated toward and wanted to be around. I think the way they were able to carry themselves is special. Obviously, I still have Marty with us every day, so that makes it even more special for me. And again, I think Johnny would be pretty proud of me right now, and I’m sure he is. I think it says a lot about who those people are, and it means a lot to me to be recognized with those guys.
Your dad taught you the better you are defensively, the better you’ll be offensively. How special is it to share this accomplishment with your parents?
Suzuki: My dad really taught me that long time ago. Just trying to be a player that can be relied upon by the coaches, defensively and offensively, and I think I really took that to heart as a kid. If you play well defensively, you're going to have the puck more which is always more fun to do. It was great sharing that news with them and with everybody in the family. They're a huge part of where I am today and I can't thank them enough.
Do you sense as though this season there’s been a higher level of recognition toward Nick either among the players or the league at large?
Caufield: Within our team, no, because we get to see it every day. We know he type of player that he is and that's what makes him so special, is that maybe the league hasn't realized how good he is and how good he still can be. […] It’s so deserved just based on the seasons that he's had before. Growing from being the worst team in the league to where we are now, it doesn't happen without him and his leadership every day. There are so many things that he does that helps the team as a whole, and we really follow his lead, so it's very well-deserved. I think the guys in the room will tell you, maybe it’s not expected, but it's something that we all knew he had in him.
What does it mean to be reaching these new heights together, considering you were the originals of this rebuild?
Suzuki: We were the young guys six years ago, and now we’re some of the older guys on the team trying to set the example and lead every single day. It's cool to see where our team’s at from where it was four years ago, and we’re an exciting young team. Cole and I are super proud to be a part of the Canadiens, and we just want to give our best and bring a championship back to the city that's given us so much already.
Caufield: It’s an exciting time in the city of Montreal to have hope and promise moving forward. […] Really excited and fortunate to be where we are, and it’s just really special and I’m happy to share it with [Nick] because I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today without him.
