Nick Suzuki is the Montreal Canadiens’ Next Superstar

When the Montreal Canadiens’ season started in January, Nick Suzuki didn’t really have a specific spot in the lineup and kept being moved up and down the lineup with Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Phillip Danault.

Now, since the beginning of the playoffs, Suzuki has been the first-line center for the Canadiens, with Tyler Toffoli on the left wing, and Cole Caufield on the right wing.

In 11 games this postseason, Suzuki has scored four goals and four assists for a total of eight points. Overall, in 21 playoff games, he has eight goals and seven assists, for a total of 15 points.

Let’s remember that this is only the second playoff appearance of his NHL career, which is why I think it’s interesting to compare Suzuki to Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ superstar and top-scorer in the NHL this regular season (41 goals).

In Matthews’ entire NHL career, he has played five times in the playoffs, with a total of 13 goals and 11 assists, totalling 24 points in 32 games played.

This postseason, in seven games played, Matthews scored one goal and got four assists for a total of five points. Looking at those numbers on their own, they’re not bad at all, but considering Matthews had scored 41 goals in 52 games, it raises the question as to why not as many in the playoffs?

While I don’t have the answer to that, nor am I trying to answer it, I think it’s fascinating that Suzuki, who was a rookie last year, has nine fewer points than Matthews.

Suzuki is a playoff performer and thrives under pressure and in big games. He’s shown it in the bubble last year, and this postseason, as well as towards the end of the regular season. When the team needs production, goals, and wins, Suzuki comes up big and is willing to do it all for the team.

In 71 games played last regular season, he scored 13 goals and 28 assists for a total of 41 points. This season, he had the same amount of points in only 56 games played (15 goals and 26 assists).

That’s on pace for 60 points in an 82-game season, which is very good considering it’s Suzuki’s second year in the league. He has been developing and improving, which only brings more excitement as to where he will be in a few years.

He was also -15 last season, compared to -5 this season. While +/- don’t always say much, I believe this shows how much more defensively responsible he is becoming as a player, and especially as a center.

Playing with veterans and learning from Phillip Danault and Eric Staal have probably been huge for him. His role within the team has only been getting bigger, and he is being relied on more and more – for his offence, for faceoffs, and for special units. Having that much responsibility is forcing him to develop faster than he would have in another situation, and I believe it will be a huge part of his success.

Not only has Suzuki’s offence developed, but we’re seeing him make defensive plays that, I personally am shocked to see out of a second-year NHLer. Not that he doesn’t have the skills, because he clearly does, but he is learning so much and so fast, watching him has truly been impressive.

I’m sure he will be the Montreal Canadiens’ next superstar in a few years when he will have fully developed into the player he is meant to be, and who we already see a glimpse of.

In the meantime, it will be fun to watch him play against the Vegas Golden Knights, who had drafted him in 2017 and traded him and Tomas Tatar for the former Canadiens captain Max Pacioretty.