- Nick and Ryan Suzuki faced off against each other for the first time at the NHL level
- The brothers met at center ice for the ceremonial opening draw as their parents watched from the stands
- Read below for how their very different paths led to Saturday’s moment in Montreal
Nick Suzuki got to play against his little brother as pros for the first time Saturday night.
The Montreal Canadiens captain and Ottawa Senators center Ryan Suzuki lined up across from each other for the ceremonial opening faceoff at the Bell Centre, where the two teams closed out the preseason with a split-squad game. Their parents made the trip to see it happen in person.
We caught the moment on X, with dad Rob Suzuki playing it cool about just happening to be in Montreal for it:
Coaches on both benches arranged for the brothers to take that opening draw together, marking the first time the two had lined up against each other with NHL rosters on the line. It’s not something that happens twice in a career, and both teams made sure to mark it.
At 27, Nick is riding the best season of his career. He posted a career-high 101 points last year and added a Selke Trophy for his two-way play, good enough for a 21st-place finish on NHL Network’s countdown of the league’s top 50 players this summer.
Ryan’s path has looked nothing like it. Carolina took him 28th overall in the 2019 draft, but injuries and inconsistent minutes kept him out of the NHL picture for years, and he’s appeared in just two career games. He finally found consistent minutes last season with the Chicago Wolves, Carolina’s AHL affiliate, scoring 13 goals and 48 points in 66 games. That performance earned him a contract with Ottawa this offseason and a fresh shot at the league his older brother has already conquered.
Saturday’s game was preseason, so nothing on the scoreboard counted. For a family that’s watched one son become a Selke winner and captain in Montreal while the other kept grinding through the minors, just getting them on the same sheet of ice meant plenty.
Both teams wrap their preseason schedules before opening night arrives this week. Nick goes back to leading the Canadiens, and Ryan gets to find out what kind of role waits for him in Ottawa.
