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Suzuki ready for a bigger role with Canadiens

By Matthew Candy

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 25: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 25, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 25: Nick Suzuki #14 of the Montreal Canadiens skates against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period at the Bell Centre on February 25, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens, Nick Suzuki
Aug 21, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Nick Suzuki.  Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Nick Suzuki was one of the key standouts in the Return to Play, and it looks as if he is ready to take the next step for the Montreal Canadiens.

Since being acquired in the wee hours of September 10th, 2018 from the Vegas Golden Knights, in a package deal for former captain Max Pacioretty, Nick Suzuki has been turning heads for the Montreal Canadiens. Suzuki was a key piece of the deal coming back the other way for Pacioretty, along with Tomas Tatar, and a second-round pick that turned into Swedish defensive prospect Mattias Norlinder.

The young pivot from London, Ontario, entered his first NHL season in 2019-20 with the Canadiens, fresh off an OHL championship which saw him collect the Wayne Gretzky “99” award for OHL playoff MVP.  Suzuki picked up where he left off in the OHL, putting up a very respectable 41 points in 71 games with the Canadiens in his rookie campaign.14 of those points came on the man advantage, with Suzuki earning more power play time as the season grew older.

Before the NHL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Suzuki was seeing more ice-time and gaining the trust of head coach Claude Julien. Seen as a 200-foot player, Suzuki was becoming more and more confident with the puck at both ends of the ice.

With the NHL return to play, the Montreal Canadiens were faced with the Pittsburgh Penguins and their all-star center duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Shut down center Phillip Danualt was tasked with containing Malkin’s line, while all world Crosby was left to 21-year old Suzuki. Paired with Danault, the duo was able to shut down the two-headed monster down the middle for the Penguins, allowing the Canadiens to advance in the fourth game of the best-of-5 series.

Suzuki’s emergence continued with the next series against the Philadelphia Flyers. The young forward amassed five points in six games, while moving to the top of the lineup to center Jonathan Drouin and Joel Armia.

When all was said and done, the Canadiens were extinguished in game six of the first round, but Suzuki sat tied for the lead in playoff points for the Canadiens as a freshman. He was also the second most utilized forward for the club, sitting only behind Danault.

If Suzuki’s initial season and playoffs taught us anything, it is that the budding star could turn into the number one center the Canadiens have been looking for.

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