Over the years, numerous players have come to the team expressing their intention to learn French to win over the fans, including the recent case of Patrik Laine. However, these promises often appear to be insincere, as few have actually followed through publicly in the team’s recent history. Patrik Laine’s partner indicated his desire to take lessons, raising the question of whether he will keep his word or if it was merely for public approval.
Brendan Kelly, a journalist from The Gazette, published a book in French discussing the significance of the French language for the Montreal Canadiens. His remarks regarding the team’s anglophone players, particularly Nick Suzuki, are quite critical. Suzuki has faced backlash for not having learned French after five years, with Kelly stating, “I don’t understand how Nick Suzuki, the captain, hasn’t learned French in five years! Serge Savard went to Russia for two weeks for the Summit Series and learned some phrases in Russian.”
In response to the book, Marc De Foy from the Journal de Montréal approached Suzuki for his thoughts, ensuring it was a private conversation for comfort. Suzuki asserted, “My French is fairly good,” a statement confirmed by Chantal Machabée, who was present. When asked why he didn’t conduct interviews in French, Suzuki replied, “One day, maybe,” adding, “I don’t know if I could form complete sentences in French.”
Chantal Machabée has emphasized the importance of learning French since joining the Canadiens’ organization and hopes to see team members embrace the language. While progress may be evident off the ice, it is slow to materialize in public appearances. Many players express a fear of making mistakes, a sentiment De Foy attributes to misplaced pride.
While I won’t dictate whether players should strive to learn French, I do believe that if they publicly commit to such challenges, they owe it to themselves and their fans to demonstrate their efforts, even if it means sharing a few words occasionally.
