Montreal Canadiens Season Preview: Nick Suzuki

Each day in August we are taking a closer look at a Montreal Canadiens player before the start of next season. Today, we preview what 2019-20 has in store for Nick Suzuki.

The Montreal Canadiens made an exceptional trade when they dealt star left winger Max Pacioretty for Tomas Tatar, Nick Suzuki and a second round pick. Suzuki was the key to the deal, and a year later he looks even better than the day he became Canadiens property.

Suzuki had already built up quite the resume at that point in his career. He had just scored 100 points for the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. The season previous he had the same success, scoring 45 goals and 96 points.

He was named captain of the Attack last season and continued his successful pace. A midseason trade with the Guelph Storm put him on a contender and he stepped up to lead the way with his new team. Suzuki finished the season with 94 points in 59 regular season games. He was even better in the postseason, scoring 42 points in 24 games, leading the Storm to an OHL Championship.

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He would go on to the Memorial Cup and scored seven points in four games, but the Storm lost in the semi-final. All summed up, including regular season, postseason Memorial Cup and World Juniors, Suzuki played 92 games last season. He scored 53 goals and 93 assists for a total of 146 points.

Those are impressive totals and show that the 19-year-old centre has nothing left to prove in Junior hockey. He will now turn pro, but the question is, will he make the Montreal Canadiens roster or is he destined to start the season with the Laval Rocket?

Suzuki has primarily played centre thus far in his career. At times he has played right wing as well, and the debate goes on as to which position he will play as a pro. He was at the team’s development camp in June and commented that the team was planning on developing him more as a centre than a winger.

That would make it more difficult for him to crack the Canadiens lineup. The Habs already have Max Domi, Phillip Danault, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Ryan Poehling playing in the middle. They also have depth options like Nate Thompson, Matthew Peca and Nick Cousins but they would be easier to beat out for a roster spot.

The only way the Canadiens could make room for Suzuki at centre would be to move Domi back to left wing where he used to play before arriving in Montreal. However, he was excellent for the Habs as a centre last season, leading the team with 72 points.

Where there may be an opening for Suzuki is on right wing. The Canadiens traded Andrew Shaw in June and didn’t bring anyone in that is a logical replacement. That means there will be some promotion from within the lineup as Shaw played a top six role for much of the season. He finished the year playing with Domi at centre, which helped Shaw have a career year as well.

Suzuki is a super-skilled offensive player. His puck handling skills are incredible and he has an elusive quality that helps him dart around the offensive zone with ease. He isn’t the fastest straight line skater but that is a focus of his this summer as he works with skating guru Barb Underhill.

His hockey sense will help him succeed at the NHL level at any time. His decision making is lightning quick as he can stickhandle just long enough to draw in a defender and then feed a saucer pass beyond him to an open teammate.

These skills are what would make him an ideal centre. Sure, he can fire a puck past a goaltender, but his decision making, puck moving and ability to create offence for his linemates will be what makes him the most successful with the Montreal Canadiens.

That is why it makes the most sense to start him out with the Laval Rocket next season. In the American Hockey League he would still face a tough level of competition, but he would be afforded the ability to learn the two-way game that is required to be a successful centre as a pro. He would be able to play every situation and take on a first line role without being taught any lessons the hard way by players like Patrice Bergeron or John Tavares just yet.

If he dominates the AHL then sure, call him up to the NHL then. I just think it would be a bit of a rush to have him start the year in the NHL, especially if it means moving him to the wing just to find a spot for him. Patience can be a difficult thing for a fan, but it will pay off in the long term with Nick Suzuki.