Montreal Canadiens head into season on wave of optimism as fans hope for return to glory

When Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki gave his first interview in French this preseason, after six years with the club, it lasted barely a minute. His answers were short, stilted and clearly rehearsed. Still, his performance was hailed as a breakthrough in the francophone media and cheered even by language stickler and Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

The grace afforded Suzuki for his belated attempt to communicate with fans in their language was a sign of the almost delirious optimism and goodwill surrounding this Canadiens team. No Habs season in 30 years has been awaited with as much excitement as the one about to begin against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday. With a young core of ultratalented players, a charismatic native-born coach, and a low bar for recent achievement, Montreal fans are generally suspending their self-protective cynicism this fall.