Player Discussion Nick Suzuki Part 11

[Supersonic]

Impressive season so far
He would produce so much more if the team around him (excluding maybe 3-4 players) wasn’t hot trash

Once we have Dach back, some more offensive depth/competency and a revamped defense in a few years this guy hits 100 points 100%

 

[habdynasty]

He looks revitalized after the all star break, same as last year. Playing with the all stars just boosts his confidence.

 

[Ozmodiar]

It's actually Hossa-Toews-Kane

Kane - that one’s a stretch. Now … if we had Demidov ...

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Production wise sure, when you add in his two-way play, his durability and his lack of offensive support theres no way hes mixed in with the borderlines.

I don’t agree. 28th and he played 82 games every year. Other top centers hurt or they’d be higher. He’s always been a borderline first. 76th in points isn’t going to scare anyone. Better suited as a strong 2nd liner than a weak first.

He’s always been in the fringe and on a good team would be a 2nd liner.

He has shown he has another gear. He’s done it in spurts. Now he needs to take the next step. He’s in his prime with good linemates, number one PP time…

No reason his production shouldn’t be around a point per game. He’s there right now. All he has to do is maintain his pace. Nobody expects 100 point season but he needs to take the next step. He has the talent and the opportunity. He’s in his prime. There’s no way he should be scoring sixty something points a year anymore.

 

[the valiant effort]

Reinhart hasnt been a C for almost a decade. Crosby, Bedard and Point is too much competition IMO. He is likely, however to play RW and be used as C insurance. Celebrini too.

Rein would be taking a lot of faceoffs, for sure. Verhaeghe/Point/Reinhart seems a likely trio. Funny enough I hope Verhaeghe/Reinhart are usurped, but as of right now chemistry and PPG status on a winning team is chemistry and PPG status on a winning team.

To hell with spreading the wealth:

Hyman - McDavid - Bedard
Crosby - MacKinnon - Marner

Marchand/Stone, will they still have wheels? I hope so.

On defense it's as wide open as ever compared to the 1998-2014 run.

Price will be the only goalie named.

The Americans are pretty confident they have this in the bag, but I don't see it.

 

[Ozmodiar]

He was 27th for center in raw point production. Again, he did produce like at the very least, a low end 1C, even last year, with hands down the worst offensive support in the NHL.

Low end #1 C last season with RHP as his best winger for the last 35 games or so.

Add 2 healthy top 6 wingers and now he’s top 20. Just as I predicted in the offseason. (A very easy prediction tho).

 

[Mrb1p]

Low end #1 C last season with RHP as his best winger for the last 35 games or so.

Add 2 healthy top 6 wingers and now he’s top 20. Just as I predicted in the offseason. (A very easy prediction tho).

Exactly. Then the 2way play is considered and hes clearly a top 20 c.

 

[Sorinth]

It’s bottom tier. Guys in that range are borderline first liners and that’s what he’s always been. A poor man’s first.

A bottom tier 1C is still a 1C

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Elite production from big D of late. I always loved him but I wasn't super bullish on his production. I wavered back and forth.

But we could be finally witnessing the emergence of an elite #1C. We could debate semantics of 'elite' but either way I feel confident he can lead us to a Cup.

Best is yet to come.

 

[Mrb1p]

Elite production from big D of late. I always loved him but I wasn't super bearish on his production. I wavered back and forth.

But we could be finally witnessing the emergence of an elite #1C. We could debate semantics of 'elite' but either way I feel confident he can lead us to a Cup.

Best is yet to come.

He 100% can. If he was more than good enough to be our boy during the Price retirement tour, he is 100% gonna be good enough with the juggernaut that is being built.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He 100% can. If he was more than good enough to be our boy during the Price retirement tour, he is 100% gonna be good enough with the juggernaut that is being built.

Even when I wasn't super convinced of him having elite regular season production, that Cup run totally had me convinced he was a winner. Kid had ice in his veins on that run. He'll be even better next time. Love love love him.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

A bottom tier 1C is still a 1C

It’s a weakness not a strength.

 

[Michelangelo]

Locked up for 7.875M for 6 more seasons

Beauty

 

[Sorinth]

It’s a weakness not a strength.

If having a #1 center was a weakness then people wouldn't have been asking for one all this time. So if you don't think a #1C is enough and that we actually need an elite #1C then you should have said that from the beginning because now it very much looks like your just moving the goal posts.

 

[Deleted member 257557]

I disagree with you. But we’ve been there done that. And I don’t want to be the skunk at the party. I think he’s leveled up lately and I hope he can maintain a higher pace. He’s got a lot of help from Slaf and all the ice he can handle. There’s no excuse. Want there to be no doubt you’re a number one? Go produce like it.

It’s semantics but I have to agree the centerman with most icetime on a given team is their “first line center” and/or one that produces top 32 league-wide at their position has “first line center” production. I have to agree though it doesn’t mean they’ll win anything.

The expression “first line center” to mean “Top tier” I always found confusing.

 

[Jaynki]

He is totally a 1C. AINEC.

Hintz is 1C in Dallas.

Zibanejad is 1C in NY.

Scheifele is 1C in WPG.

Kopitar in LA...

Those are contenders.

Nick is as good as any of those guy.

He is not a megastar C a la MacKinnon, Matthews, McDavid...

But he is right up there in the tier of 1C below them.

Not need to argue semantics. Everything support it. From point production, to deployment, to defensive impact, to intangibles.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

He is totally a 1C. AINEC.

Hintz is 1C in Dallas.

Zibanejad is 1C in NY.

Scheifele is 1C in WPG.

Kopitar in LA...

Those are contenders.

Nick is as good as any of those guy.

He is not a megastar C a la MacKinnon, Matthews, McDavid...

But he is right up there in the tier of 1C below them.

Not need to argue semantics. Everything support it. From point production, to deployment, to defensive impact, to intangibles.

Yes. If the Habs want to win the cup they would have to build a team with forward depth and not with top superstars like Colorado or Pittsburgh a bit like the Kings, Vegas or Bruins.

 

[Wats]

At the all star game you can tell his vision and craftiness wasn't that far behind some of those superstars. If he's taken his game to 80 point guy, Caufield becomes 70 point guy, and Slaf continues his growth to a 60 point guy, it's a good season of growth.

 

[BarracudaMtl]

Locked up for 7.875M for 6 more seasons

Beauty

I think we should not waste those valuable years of Susuki and Caufield.

And we should start freeing up money now and go for attacking talent...real talent.

I was reading out there that the Gallger buyout would cost us 2M in cap until 2030...I don't know if anyone can confirm this info...but if so, I think we should take it into account.

 

[Deleted member 257557]

Yes. If the Habs want to win the cup they would have to build a team with forward depth and not with top superstars like Colorado or Pittsburgh a bit like the Kings, Vegas or Bruins.

There’s no ceiling yet on his new left winger

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

If having a #1 center was a weakness then people wouldn't have been asking for one all this time. So if you don't think a #1C is enough and that we actually need an elite #1C then you should have said that from the beginning because now it very much looks like your just moving the goal posts.

All 32 teams have a guy they call a number one. Some are better than others. Some teams have two centers better than another team’s first. It’s all relative.

So… sure, he was a number one. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be better suited to the second line.

The talent has always been there. The consistency has not. Maybe Slaf can help bring it out. Either way, Suzkui has shown flashes of what he can be. He needs to take the next step. He’s 24/25 years old now. If not now, then when? He’s a vet and he’s in an ideal situation ice time wise with good linemates.

I think he’s a better player than he’s shown. He needs to show he can do it consistently. If he finishes with another 60 something point season it would really be a disappointment. Esp now that he’s playing so well.

 

[Redux91]

It’s bottom tier. Guys in that range are borderline first liners and that’s what he’s always been. A poor man’s first.

I take it back!
The bet is back on!
But I want to change 75 pts for 70
On the grounds that ya BOY Caufield isn't living up to his end of the deal this year!

My people will get in touch with your people

 

[Sorinth]

So… sure, he was a number one. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be better suited to the second line.

Every #1 would be better suited to the 2nd line. Malkin in his prime was better suited for the 2nd line not because he wasn't a dominant #1C but because it automatically means that there's an even more dominant C on the team. So saying a middle of the pack #1C like Suzuki is better suited for the 2nd line is less then meaningless.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

All 32 teams have a guy they call a number one. Some are better than others. Some teams have two centers better than another team’s first. It’s all relative.

So… sure, he was a number one. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be better suited to the second line.

The talent has always been there. The consistency has not. Maybe Slaf can help bring it out. Either way, Suzkui has shown flashes of what he can be. He needs to take the next step. He’s 24/25 years old now. If not now, then when? He’s a vet and he’s in an ideal situation ice time wise with good linemates.

I think he’s a better player than he’s shown. He needs to show he can do it consistently. If he finishes with another 60 something point season it would really be a disappointment. Esp now that he’s playing so well.

Did you consider Toews to be an elite no. 1 C back in the early to mid 2010s?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Every #1 would be better suited to the 2nd line. Malkin in his prime was better suited for the 2nd line not because he wasn't a dominant #1C but because it automatically means that there's an even more dominant C on the team. So saying a middle of the pack #1C like Suzuki is better suited for the 2nd line is less then meaningless.

Whatever you say man…