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Asian NHL players Matt Dumba, Nick Suzuki and Kailer Yamamoto primed for breakout seasons
- The growing diversity of the NHL means players of Asian descent are starting to leave their mark on the ice
- Five players could find a shortened, revamped season the perfect opportunity to make a name for themselves
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As the National Hockey League gets set to kick off its new season, a number of changes will take place due to the coronavirus – new divisions, including an all-Canadian one, plus a shortened season and revamped play-off structure.
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The league’s growing diversity also has some players with Asian heritage standing on the precipice of stardom. The question is, will the shortened season and the new format be a good thing for them or will the changes bring an entirely new crop of talent to the surface?
Nick Suzuki
The Montreal Canadiens centre, who went 21st overall in the 2017 NHL Draft, is being pegged to potentially fill a long-standing gap. The 21-year-old Japanese-Canadian is hoping to build off a stellar rookie season and become the No 1 centre.
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The team has always had difficulty finding a premier centre to build their forward core around, and Suzuki’s hockey IQ and skill could finally be the answer.
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