Nick Suzuki isn't staying quiet while two of his teammates wait out contract negotiations with the Montreal Canadiens.
The captain praised both Arber Xhekaj and Zachary Bolduc this week, with training camp only a few weeks away.
"Of course, they are two extremely important players for us," Suzuki said. "Arber is a very big piece in the locker room, but also on the ice for what he brings."
Suzuki didn't stop with Xhekaj either. He pointed to Bolduc's growth throughout last season as a reason for optimism.
"In Zachary's case, he gained momentum throughout the last season and had some big stretches," Suzuki said. "We hope their situations will be resolved quickly."
Bolduc posted 30 points in 78 games this season, adding seven more points across 19 playoff games during Montreal's run.
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Nick Suzuki weighs in on Xhekaj and Bolduc contract situations
That's real production from a player still working through his entry-level years. Suzuki's public endorsement adds a layer of pressure that quiet negotiations usually don't get.
Suzuki himself is coming off a monumental season, 101 points in 82 games, including 72 assists and a plus-37 rating that led Montreal all year.
His comments echo what other voices around the organization have already said this summer, including team ownership and the coaching staff.
Suzuki specifically emphasized Xhekaj's value away from the ice, the kind of intangible impact that never shows up in a box score but still matters inside a locker room.
Both Xhekaj and Bolduc remain restricted free agents as camp approaches, and every public comment like this one nudges the clock a little louder.
Kent Hughes has shown a methodical approach in past negotiations, but methodical and slow start to look the same the closer camp gets.
Whether Suzuki's support actually accelerates anything is impossible to measure. But it's not nothing when the captain puts his name behind two unresolved deals this publicly.
Will Nick Suzuki's public support speed up Arber Xhekaj's contract signing?
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