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Canadiens head coach Claude Julien has done a good job of slowly breaking rookie forward Nick Suzuki into the NHL.

Through his first 11 games, Suzuki has 3-1-4 totals and a plus-2 rating while averaging 14:09 of ice time, including 2:43 on the power play. Julien has put Suzuki in positions to succeed, using him mostly on the fourth line with favourable matchups, while bumping him up the lineup at times.

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Julien has also made Nate Thompson Suzuki’s regular linemate and what the rookie is learning from the veteran centre can only help him moving forward in his career.

“He’s a great example on and off the ice,” Julien said after practice Monday in Brossard about Thompson’s influence on Suzuki. “Off the ice, he’s here early, he takes care of himself, he trains well. On the ice, you can see his experience in what he does and I think in Nick’s situation he’s kind of lucky he’s got a guy like that, not only to look up to but to play with.”