Player Discussion Nick Suzuki Part 11

[Ezpz]

You can really tell the people who watch a ton of habs hockey vs those who casually catch a game. Fans of the habs or not. If you tuned in once a month to a habs game or caught the odd highlight, you might think to yourself that Suzuki doesn't appear to be all that talented. He on the surface isn't super fast, or imposing on the ice.

But what he absolutely is, is one of the smartest players I have ever seen. He rarely makes a bad decision. His demeanour is the forward equivalent of CP31 (ice cold). When you watch a lot of this team and focus on Nick, you will notice that he turns it up, only when he has too. His effort and energy is conserved for when it is needed both on the offensive end and defensive end. There is rarely a wasted movement on the ice, which allows him to maximize his potential.

Perhaps that is what it is. His intelligence on the ice allows for maximum output with his skill set. It is brilliant to watch and I think an indicator of long term success. Cut from the same cloth as a Patrice Bergeron.

Exactly the type of player to wear a C, and if I had to bet, he is exactly the type of player that will be playing on future Team Canada's in best on best situation

I don't think Bergeron is particularly great with the puck offensively. Nick is more like Datsyuk. Certainly if Nick played with two 100 point players he'd be the leading scorer rather than 20-30 points behind. Datsyuk also had a knack for looking slow and uninterested and then taking over the play whenever he needed to.

 

[waitin425]

I don't think Bergeron is particularly great with the puck offensively. Nick is more like Datsyuk. Certainly if Nick played with two 100 point players he'd be the leading scorer rather than 20-30 points behind. Datsyuk also had a knack for looking slow and uninterested and then taking over the play whenever he needed to.

I like the Datsyuk comparable as well.

I've always thought that to make it to the NHL, you have to be elite in 4 categories relative to you junior hockey peers.

Elite Hands
Elite Skating
Elite Heart
Elite Head

If one of those 4 pillars is missing you greatly diminish your chances of making it to the NHL.

I place each one of those categories as equals to success and they constantly balance off each other should you be lacking in one. McDavid for example even relative to his NHL peers, would be near the top in all four categories.

Suzuki has got to be near the top in the head/intelligence category of an NHL player. It can make up a ton of ground if his skating is moderate.

 

[JianYang]

I don't think Bergeron is particularly great with the puck offensively. Nick is more like Datsyuk. Certainly if Nick played with two 100 point players he'd be the leading scorer rather than 20-30 points behind. Datsyuk also had a knack for looking slow and uninterested and then taking over the play whenever he needed to.

Bergeron has also shown to be very slick with the puck, especially earlier in his career. I think that part of his game has often been overshadowed by his 2 way brand of hockey that everyone knows him for.

When we start to talk about Datsyuk level, that's just a different level of magic. Suzuki can look like that from time to time, and he's certainly got some parallels to Datsyuk, but I'd say kovalev was more like Datsyuk in the sense that they could almost deke guys out in their sleep with how effortless and consistent they were in deking past their check.

I mean when kovalev would gather the puck in his own zone and rush it up the ice, you already knew he was going to deke checkers out on that shift... It was just a matter of how many as he made his way up the ice. His agility was phenomenal.

 

[Ezpz]

Bergeron has also shown to be very slick with the puck, especially earlier in his career. I think that part of his game has often been overshadowed by his 2 way brand of hockey that everyone knows him for.

When we start to talk about Datsyuk level, that's just a different level of magic. Suzuki can look like that from time to time, and he's certainly got some parallels to Datsyuk, but I'd say kovalev was more like Datsyuk in the sense that they could almost deke guys out in their sleep with how effortless and consistent they were in deking past their check.

I mean when kovalev would gather the puck in his own zone and rush it up the ice, you already knew he was going to deke checkers out on that shift... It was just a matter of how many as he made his way up the ice. His agility was phenomenal.

Datsyuk had just made the NHL at Nick's age. He didn't truly break out until he was 25. His peak was 27-30 years old. I wouldn't discount the fact that Suzuki has improved every year he's been in the league. Who knows how good he'll be in four years.

 

[JianYang]

Datsyuk had just made the NHL at Nick's age. He didn't truly break out until he was 25. His peak was 27-30 years old. I wouldn't discount the fact that Suzuki has improved every year he's been in the league. Who knows how good he'll be in four years.

Detroit was also notorious for taking it slow with their young guys. Their lineup was veteran laiden when Datsyuk was younger.

They took a similar approach with zetterberg.

It was a unique situation because as guys like zetterberg and Datsyuk were coming up, the wings were still winning with their older core, and they barely skipped a beat while slowly passing the torch over.

Hence, why they made the playoffs every year for over two decades, and remained serious contenders for alot of that run.

 

[CHwest]

Nick is like Patrice in that they are both understated. Not a lot of flash to their games but they are very efficient. I am somewhat surprised the French fans have taken to Nick as they have because in my experience the French love the flashy players, hence the love for Kovalev which I never got. Nick is one of my favorites to watch, very little wasted motion, just makes the right play consistently without fanfare. Hockey IQ is through the roof. Great playmaker for CC.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Just read an article by Gascon on Suzuki. The article was in fench and the translation yielded a surprise:

"Beyond his flashes, his way of behaving, of acting as a leader of men, of never giving up even blew his coach who is not surprised, but very impressed by the young center"

Analyse | L’équipe de Nick Suzuki… et de son patron

Le jeune capitaine totalise 10 buts et 9 passes en 15 rencontres cette saison.

ici.radio-canada.ca

 

[Mrb1p]

Nick is like Patrice in that they are both understated. Not a lot of flash to their games but they are very efficient. I am somewhat surprised the French fans have taken to Nick as they have because in my experience the French love the flashy players, hence the love for Kovalev which I never got. Nick is one of my favorites to watch, very little wasted motion, just makes the right play consistently without fanfare. Hockey IQ is through the roof. Great playmaker for CC.

Francophones, not french.

Also theres plenty of flash to Nicks game? Moreso than Patrice IMO, whos mostly a grinder with elite level vision, Patrice is Danault on steroids, Nick is a younger version of Datsyuk. I am 100% confident in saying that Nick is more skilled than Bergeron, he doesnt have the drive nor the IQ of Patrice though.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Nick is like Patrice in that they are both understated. Not a lot of flash to their games but they are very efficient. I am somewhat surprised the French fans have taken to Nick as they have because in my experience the French love the flashy players, hence the love for Kovalev which I never got. Nick is one of my favorites to watch, very little wasted motion, just makes the right play consistently without fanfare. Hockey IQ is through the roof. Great playmaker for CC.

Nick has a lot of flash as he makes at least one great dangle every game. The kid has a nasty toe drag and super slick hands. If by flash you are referring to blowing by defenders with blinding speed then yeah, that is not his game but he gets fans out of their seats with a ridiculous move far more often then you are giving him credit for.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

His contract could actually end up a huge bargain lol

 

[417]

His contract could actually end up a huge bargain lol

*Is

 

[JustAHabFan]

What a goal by Suzuki in the shootout.

 

[Skip Bayless]

The franchise.

 

[Gamimenos]

Seeing this kid's talent unfold is something special. Suzuki and CC will be a duo that will terrorize opponents for years to come.

 

[willzyix]

Easily the best offensive player we've had since 08 Kovalev. Amazing player.

 

[Paddy17]

Seeing this kid's talent unfold is something special. Suzuki and CC will be a duo that will terrorize opponents for years to come.

Our version of Hull & Oates.

 

[HostileCapSpace]

His contract could actually end up a huge bargain lol

A last gift from Bargain Bin.

 

[CHfan1]

Suzuki with 9 multi-point games this season already.

Great game from him, quite the highlight reel:

 

[HostileCapSpace]

Our version of Hull & Oates.

 

[dkd]

Can we send him to Laval for a few months so we can tank properly? /s

 

[Miller Time]

We're watching a player step into the elite category, and the reality is that the best is yet to come... Wow.

 

[Kojo]

We're watching a player step into the elite category, and the reality is that the best is yet to come... Wow.

Don't say the word elite, it's frowned upon. He's very very good.

 

[Miller Time]

Don't say the word elite, it's frowned upon. He's very very good.

Some people just like frowning, that's their business.

He's playing at a top 5 C level, doesn't get much more elite than that.

 

[Belial]

The game is on slow mode for him, that's for sure... What a brain...

 

[Shad]

The pass to Matheson what the f