It's been a long road for first-rounder Ryan Suzuki, but he's finally landed himself in the NHL.
Suzuki, brother of Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, is set to make his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes, nearly six years after being selected 28th overall at the 2019 NHL Draft.
The 23-year-old has spent the last five seasons playing for the Hurricanes' affiliates in the AHL. He had his most productive season in 2022-23, scoring 13 goals and 32 points in 50 games for the Chicago Wolves. In 38 games this season, Suzuki has six goals and 24 points — two points away from tying a career-high.
The London, Ont. native has struggled with injuries throughout his playing time, including a career-threatening eye injury he suffered while playing for the OHL's Barrie Colts in November of 2019. He was able to return to the lineup the following month, but played with a blind spot.
He also suffered a minor shoulder injury in Oct. 2023, for which he was sidelined a short amount of time.
The Hurricanes are dealing with several injuries, including to Sebastian Aho (day-to-day), Jack Roslovic (day-to-day), Tyson Jost (injured reserve), and William Carrier (indefinite).
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