A Winning Habit
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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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TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 21: Nick Suzuki Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – AUGUST 21: Nick Suzuki Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

There are three main attributes that I consider to be the strong points of Nick Suzuki’s game. These three, among others, are what will allow him to grow into a top-line centerman sooner rather than later.

Hockey IQ

Suzuki is a very smart player. Whether it be in the offensive or defensive zone, he always seems to make the right play. Suzuki has grown into a reliable two-way forward for the Montreal Canadiens, so reliable in fact that you rarely ever see him in the penalty box. The young forward only accounted for six penalty minutes last season in 71 games. For a center playing at both ends of the ice, that is an impressively low number.

Number 14’s creativity and vision make up the bulk of his intelligence on the ice—a young star playing well beyond his years. On a recent episode of the popular podcast Spittin Chiclets, Philadelphia Flyers’ forward Kevin Hayes referred to Suzuki as being very similar to Blues forward Ryan O’Reilly. A pretty prestigious tip of the hat to Suzuki, as the Blues’ centerman, is regarded as a premier 200-foot player in the NHL, collecting the 2019 Selke Trophy for best defensive forward.

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Deceptiveness 

Next time you are able to watch Suzuki, keep an eye on his deceptiveness with the puck. An example I always like to refer to is when the power play is running through the hands of Suzuki on the half boards. On a number of occasions, Suzuki has circled off of the half boards towards the net, which has everybody on the ice thinking he is going to release a quick wrister.

Think again.

Suzuki has his whole body, including his head, pointed towards the opposing goaltender in a shooting position, drawing all the attention of the penalty killers. He then calmly slides a no-look pass cross-seam to Tomas Tatar, who has a wide-open net. Another thing you may notice is that Suzuki has a sneaky quick release. As good as he is at selling a shot, he is also just as deceptive when looking off a teammate before firing one past the unexpecting goaltender.

Anticipation

A big part of a hockey player’s make-up is his or her ability to read the play before it happens. Suzuki is able to read the play and then some well before it even develops. While some players are thinking two-steps ahead, it seems as though sometimes Suzuki is thinking three steps ahead. His positioning in the defensive zone is always outstanding, with his ability to close down passing lanes and create a breakout pass option for defensemen under pressure. An ability that may go unnoticed but provides security for the Canadiens in their own end.

Paired with his positioning, Suzuki has an aura of calmness that surrounds his game in the offensive zone as well. Whether it be sliding a pass through a defensemen’s feet, finding a shooting lane through traffic, or turning an opposing defender inside out with a toe drag, Suzuki makes it look easy.

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