Player Discussion Nick Suzuki Part 11

[Naslundforever]

70 for your top producer is atrocious nowadays. This isn't 2014. Most teams have at least one ppg player. Suzuki is 67th in total points, and 86th in pts/game (min. 30 games played). Meh. I love Suzuki, he's a good two-way player who can show wizard-like stuff on the ice, but him being our best producer is depressing.

For my whole life Habs had a drab offense. And there's nothing sexy in the pipeline (at forward, Hutson is as exciting as you could ask for a defenseman). Better pray we get in the top of that draft or this won't change.

Pretty confident as the collective gets better, the few hab best-in-class will really elevate.

They’ll have experienced Defensemen for starters. Matchups will be different once they can roll 3 good lines too. A healthy Caufield… and surely by substracting wash-ups like Dad and Drou eating offensive zone and pp minutes it all adds up. Suzuki should be ppg+ from now on I believe.

 

[blarneylad]

70 for your top producer is atrocious nowadays. This isn't 2014. Most teams have at least one ppg player. Suzuki is 67th in total points, and 86th in pts/game (min. 30 games played). Meh. I love Suzuki, he's a good two-way player who can show wizard-like stuff on the ice, but him being our best producer is depressing.

For my whole life Habs had a drab offense. And there's nothing sexy in the pipeline (at forward, Hutson is as exciting as you could ask for a defenseman). Better pray we get in the top of that draft or this won't change.

It's funny, Plekanec was a 65-70 point center in a league when scoring was much lower. You'd be lucky to see a guy hit 100 points let alone 140!

But all Plek ever was in the eyes of Habs nation, rightfully so I might add for clarity, was a good two-way 2nd line center.

Enter Suzuki who has numbers that line up with 2nd line players on other teams and we daresay he is a superstar in the making? I see a Koivu-like or slightly better than Pleks thus far.

He has big strides to take if superstar will ring from my mouth in regards to his play and output.

 

[417]

70 for your top producer is atrocious nowadays. This isn't 2014. Most teams have at least one ppg player. Suzuki is 67th in total points, and 86th in pts/game (min. 30 games played). Meh. I love Suzuki, he's a good two-way player who can show wizard-like stuff on the ice, but him being our best producer is depressing.

For my whole life Habs had a drab offense. And there's nothing sexy in the pipeline (at forward, Hutson is as exciting as you could ask for a defenseman). Better pray we get in the top of that draft or this won't change.

Suzuki would be at or near a PPG player, at the ripe old age of 23, if he wasn't playing with a cast of different wingers every other week...2 of which were in the AHL all year.

I'm not sure why people question his ability to produce points...the fact he's matched his career high given the circumstances he has to deal with, night in/night out, is incredible IMO.

When other teams play the Habs...there's 1 player on their whiteboard who they've identified as the threat to nullify and his name is always Nick Suzuki.

 

[morhilane]

It's funny, Plekanec was a 65-70 point center in a league when scoring was much lower. You'd be lucky to see a guy hit 100 points let alone 140!

But all Plek ever was in the eyes of Habs nation, rightfully so I might add for clarity, was a good two-way 2nd line center.

Enter Suzuki who has numbers that line up with 2nd line players on other teams and we daresay he is a superstar in the making? I see a Koivu-like or slightly better than Pleks thus far.

He has big strides to take if superstar will ring from my mouth in regards to his play and output.

Plekanec played his first full NHL season at 24 years old and his production plateaued at 25 years old. Suzuki is 23 years old and his production haven't plateaued yet. The only reason why he's not ppg this season is because of his mid-season slump where his production dropped to 0.4 ppg for about two months.

 

[417]

Plekanec played his first full NHL season at 24 years old and his production plateaued at 25 years old. Suzuki is 23 years old and his production haven't plateaued yet. The only reason why he's not ppg this season is because of his mid-season slump where his production dropped to 0.4 ppg for about two months.

Which coincides with losing the only legitimate top line winger he had.

I have zero doubts if Caufield had stayed healthy, he'd be closing in on a 40 goal season and Suzuki would be comfortably at a PPG pace.

 

[habdynasty]

Elite.

 

[blarneylad]

Which coincides with losing the only legitimate top line winger he had.

I have zero doubts if Caufield had stayed healthy, he'd be closing in on a 40 goal season and Suzuki would be comfortably at a PPG pace.

Maybe it is Caufield that is the elite one

 

[Benstheman]

I understand the comparaison game and all but Suzuki as way better hands and talent offensively than Plekanec. Plekanec was a stud defensively though.

That being said, since the thread is about Suzuki, I think he will get to ppg once the team is competitive. He is not of the elite kind that can take a entire team offense on his shoulders but he certainly can be a leading force going forward.

30 goals-80 pts per season is what I envisioned him to be and I not ready to change it yet.

 

[417]

Maybe it is Caufield that is the elite one

Same applies to Caufield...take away Suzuki and play him with Dvorak and see now that works out for him.

 

[blarneylad]

I understand the comparaison game and all but Suzuki as way better hands and talent offensively than Plekanec. Plekanec was a stud defensively though.

That being said, since the thread is about Suzuki, I think he will get to ppg once the team is competitive. He is not of the elite kind that can take a entire team offense on his shoulders but he certainly can be a leading force going forward.

30 goals-80 pts per season is what I envisioned him to be and I not ready to change it yet.

With scoring up league wide, I would hope at 8m Suzuki can be a ppg. Dach looks like he might take over the 1st line imo. Hoping to have two solid guys there at 70-80 points each per healthy season.

I agree, Suzuki is a more talented player, he has vision for the ice and thinks the game in the offensive zone in ways that Pleks did not. In that regard he reminds me of Koivu.

Same applies to Caufield...take away Suzuki and play him with Dvorak and see now that works out for him.

Dvorak would pull OVs numbers down!

 

[Mrb1p]

I understand the comparaison game and all but Suzuki as way better hands and talent offensively than Plekanec. Plekanec was a stud defensively though.

That being said, since the thread is about Suzuki, I think he will get to ppg once the team is competitive. He is not of the elite kind that can take a entire team offense on his shoulders but he certainly can be a leading force going forward.

30 goals-80 pts per season is what I envisioned him to be and I not ready to change it yet.

Suzuki is a lot more Koivu than Plekanec. He can shoot it better than both though.

I think Plekanec was a better small space player than both, just something about him that made him produce a lot. I think Plekanec was a low-end 1C, Koivu and Suzuki are both gonna be around 15-20 range of 1C, which is more than fine if you have another one just like him and a strong team. (Bergeron and Krejci, Backstrom and Kuz, Toews and whoever, Getzlaf and Mac, O'reilly and Schenn.)

 

[habdynasty]

Watch some games.

 

[blarneylad]

Watch some games.

I will admit, I have stopped watching since Caufield went down. Has his play been better than the stats?

I'm basing alot on play from 21-22, and the start of the season where I liked what I saw but was never blown away nor thought wow here is a legit 1st line center. Like the type that puts cups over their heads and teams on their backs.

What is he doing particularly of late that would indicate hype for his future?

 

[Skip Bayless]

Suzuki is a lot more Koivu than Plekanec. He can shoot it better than both though.

I think Plekanec was a better small space player than both, just something about him that made him produce a lot. I think Plekanec was a low-end 1C, Koivu and Suzuki are both gonna be around 15-20 range of 1C, which is more than fine if you have another one just like him and a strong team. (Bergeron and Krejci, Backstrom and Kuz, Toews and whoever, Getzlaf and Mac, O'reilly and Schenn.)

Plekanec and Koivu were awful small space players. They were all rush/counter attack. Anticipation and speed. Koivu was a better playmaker though.

Suzuki does it all and he's a better offensive player than the other two. His two way game still needs some seasoning, but I don't think he'll ever be Selke level.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[SlafySZN]

.

 

[Miller Time]

What an impressive season by this 23 year old...

First year as captain of one of the most heavily scrutinized franchises in sport.

Career best in goals & points, despite a revolving door of linemates, none of which top line caliber after CC went down.

Plays a full season on a team with 1 other player that played 70+.

Demonstrates class and calmness all season long, despite his own rough stretches & the team's often dismal performance.

Scores highlight reel goals and makes jaw dropping assists, always looking like it ain't no big deal.

His composure, competitiveness & maturity is damn impressive.

Can't wait to see just how good he will be in his mid to late 20's!

Future is bright

 

[Durvann]

What an impressive season by this 23 year old...

First year as captain of one of the most heavily scrutinized franchises in sport.

Career best in goals & points, despite a revolving door of linemates, none of which top line caliber after CC went down.

Plays a full season on a team with 1 other player that played 70+.

Demonstrates class and calmness all season long, despite his own rough stretches & the team's often dismal performance.

Scores highlight reel goals and makes jaw dropping assists, always looking like it ain't no big deal.

His composure, competitiveness & maturity is damn impressive.

Can't wait to see just how good he will be in his mid to late 20's!

Future is bright

Totally agree. He carried this team through alot. Must have felt miserable.

He hasn't missed a single career game and is improving constantly since the first day he showed up.

To me he's basically Kovalev and Plekanec into one if you think about it.

Kovalev-like:
- Not overly big yet very solid on his skates
- Not a speedster
- Physical endurance
- Can control the puck under pressure
- Dekes and puck handling
- Sneaky shots (can't match shot velocity yet though)
- Creativity
- Steals pucks/passes
- Very monotone guy
- Swag
- Could probably learn to fly planes if he wanted to

Pleky-like:
- Coache's favorite
- Plays with wingers with same offensive production as Tom Pyatt and Tom Kostopoulos
- Again, not big but not a handicapped by it
- Good smart active stick
- Anticipation
- Can be soft at times
- Rarely gets hit (lil' girl)
- Decent on faceoffs (in a few years maybe)
- Executes all details well
- Rarely tries to do too much
- Sportsmanship
- 2 way game (yes, especially once offensive is generated on more than 1 line)
- Swag
- Could probably pull off the goatie turtleneck look

I can't wait to see him well surrounded in a more offensive role again in a year or 2.

 

[Miller Time]

Totally agree. He carried this team through alot. Must have felt miserable.

He hasn't missed a single career game and is improving constantly since the first day he showed up.

To me he's basically Kovalev and Plekanec into one if you think about it.

Kovalev-like:
- Not overly big yet very solid on his skates
- Not a speedster
- Physical endurance
- Can control the puck under pressure
- Dekes and puck handling
- Sneaky shots (can't match shot velocity yet though)
- Creativity
- Steals pucks/passes
- Very monotone guy
- Swag
- Could probably learn to fly planes if he wanted to

Pleky-like:
- Coache's favorite
- Plays with wingers with same offensive production as Tom Pyatt and Tom Kostopoulos
- Again, not big but not a handicapped by it
- Good smart active stick
- Anticipation
- Can be soft at times
- Rarely gets hit (lil' girl)
- Decent on faceoffs (in a few years maybe)
- Executes all details well
- Rarely tries to do too much
- Sportsmanship
- 2 way game (yes, especially once offensive is generated on more than 1 line)
- Swag
- Could probably pull off the goatie turtleneck look

I can't wait to see him well surrounded in a more offensive role again in a year or 2.

That combo, if refined to the peak versions of each = Datsyuk

That remains the ceiling or best case version of Suzuki's peak imo.

At the same age, Datsyuk was in his rookie season, on a cup winning Red Wings team 9 future HOF players deep (not counting him) & put up 35pts. He first hit 60+ (68) & led the wings in points for the first time 2 years later at 25 & It was really from 27-35 that he became a dominant elite force...

I can't wait to see what the next 5-7 years look like for Suzuki, sky's the limit, he knows it & he seems like the type of athlete who will relentlessly pursue it.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Yeah whatever we can say about Suzuki this season, the stars weren't aligned for him to truly show his full potential. Had to play under very difficult circumstances, and behaved like a pro all the way.

Zero worries on my part. I think he has a 100 pts season in him down the line.

 

[JianYang]

Yeah whatever we can say about Suzuki this season, the stars weren't aligned for him to truly show his full potential. Had to play under very difficult circumstances, and behaved like a pro all the way.

Zero worries on my part. I think he has a 100 pts season in him down the line.

100 is too high. I think suzuki has the talent, but 100 points guy are quite consistent. Since his career began, I feel like he disappears for certain stretches. I get that his linemates were sub par.... But I'm talking about disappearing to the level of not even remembering that he's in the lineup.

Having said that, he seems to elevate when the stage is bigger, which is a very good thing

 

[Mrb1p]

100 is too high. I think suzuki has the talent, but 100 points guy are quite consistent. Since his career began, I feel like he disappears for certain stretches. I get that his linemates were sub par.... But I'm talking about disappearing to the level of not even remembering that he's in the lineup.

Having said that, he seems to elevate when the stage is bigger, which is a very good thing

100 points player also have these kind of stretches, the difference is that usually, they're surrounded by talent and that gets you the easy points, it also makes your life easier because the sole focus is not on you.

He's almost PPG with Caufield in the lineup under STL, with Dach, Guhle, Caufield and hopefully something else he's gonna be PPG for sure. If you add even more talent, puck luck and injury luck there's 100 points in him for sure. 65 points while playing with RHP (Whom I love) and Pitlick ? Lets not forget Pettersson had 68 points just las tyear while playing with Miller who's puck luck was insane.

 

[Mrb1p]

Anybody know which hat Suzuki is wearing there ?

 

[JianYang]

100 points player also have these kind of stretches, the difference is that usually, they're surrounded by talent and that gets you the easy points, it also makes your life easier because the sole focus is not on you.

He's almost PPG with Caufield in the lineup under STL, with Dach, Guhle, Caufield and hopefully something else he's gonna be PPG for sure. If you add even more talent, puck luck and injury luck there's 100 points in him for sure. 65 points while playing with RHP (Whom I love) and Pitlick ? Lets not forget Pettersson had 68 points just las tyear while playing with Miller who's puck luck was insane.

I live out in the west coast and pretty everyone expected Pettersson to break through this year. It was a down year. I'm not sure how much he played with Miller except that when boudreau came in, he moved Miller to center so for that stretch, I don't think they played much other than the PP

I think suzuki's point totals are fine given the cast. I argued similarly when koivu played with trash in the DPE 02/03 season and came out with 70 plus points.

I can buy the PPG argument and even over a PPG, but from going there too over 100 points, there is a sizable gap in between, and there are multiple ifs to go his way for that to happen.

 

[Rapala]

I don't know about anyone else but I'm willing to let Suzuki grow into his role as Captain before I make any prognostications about his consistency.