After an impressive rookie campaign in 2019-2020, which earned him a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team, Nick Suzuki quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Montreal Canadiens. But did anyone expect him to be this good five seasons later, at only 25 years old?
Coming into the 2024-2025 season, NHL Network ranked Suzuki as the 16th-best center in the league. Now, with a career-high 49 assists and 69 total points—just eight shy of a new personal best with 17 games remaining—has his performance this season done enough to cement his place among the NHL's top 15 centers?
Nick Suzuki: the elite center
Suzuki has improved every season since his rookie year, and after a career-best performance last season, more people are finally recognizing his elite talent. In 2023-2024, Suzuki scored 33 goals and tallied 44 assists for 77 points, setting career highs across the board. Now, this season, he has taken his game to another level.
Suzuki has already set a new career-high in assists (49), and his impact goes beyond personal stats—he has been a driving force in keeping the Canadiens in the thick of the playoff race. Centering a line with Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, Suzuki has helped lead one of the most productive top lines in the NHL. The Canadiens' top line is near the top of the league in XGF (expected goals for) at 23.5. Suzuki is also on pace to be a positive +/- rating for the first time in his young career (currently +11), a big deal for a team that gives up more goals than they score.
Not only is Suzuki playing his best hockey, but he has elevated his linemates, helping them reach new heights in their young careers.
Clearly, Suzuki has risen to elite status—but has he surpassed any of the 15 centers ranked ahead of him?
Has Suzuki cracked the NHL’s top 15 centers?
For Suzuki to enter the top 15, at least one player must drop out. Three names stand out as potential candidates:
Elias Pettersson (ranked 10th before the season)
Before the season, Pettersson was ranked tenth and was a clear elite centerman for the Canucks. But now, nearly one year later, his elite status is suddenly unclear. The drama-filled season for Pettersson has been no secret to the media, and his production has fallen off a cliff. There’s no doubt Suzuki has been the better player this season, but the question remains: does one down year knock Pettersson out of the top 15? If it does, Suzuki is next in line to take his spot.
Connor Bedard (13)
Bedard entered the NHL with sky-high expectations, but in his sophomore season, he has struggled. Yes, he plays on one of the league’s worst teams, but should a player’s ranking be based on reputation or actual production? So far this season, Bedard has 17 goals, 35 assists, and 52 points—numbers that Suzuki has already surpassed. While Bedard will likely reach superstardom, Suzuki has been the better center this year and even last season when Bedard won the Calder trophy.
Roope Hintz (14)
Suzuki and Hintz are two underrated stars who play top-line minutes and impact both ends of the ice. However, Hintz benefits from playing alongside superstars like Jason Robertson and, now, the newest member of the Stars, Mikko Rantanen, which makes it easier for him to rack up points. However, all that is pretty subjective. What is objective, though, is Hintz has 52 points this year, compared to Suzuki's 69, although Hintz has played in six fewer games. In fact, Hintz has never surpassed Suzuki's career-high point total of 23'-24', and he has never been an all-star, while Suzuki has been named to multiple.
Suzuki is the perfect leader
While Suzuki's stats alone make him a strong candidate for the top 15, his intangibles strengthen his case even further.
Since being named captain of the Canadiens in 2022, Suzuki has let his play do the talking. In one of the biggest markets in hockey, he has embraced the leadership role and exceeded expectations. His ability to remain calm under pressure has made him the ideal leader for a team that wasn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot this year—yet here they are, in the race, largely thanks to their captain.
Since Montreal traded former captain Max Pacioretty for Suzuki, few could have imagined that Suzuki would become the franchise's centerpiece.
Suzuki's final verdict
Looking strictly at statistics, Suzuki has a strong case for a top-15 spot. However, this case becomes even more substantial when factoring in his leadership, ability to elevate teammates, and impact in a major hockey market. The Canadiens were expected to be in the draft lottery conversation, yet Suzuki has willed them into the playoff hunt. When comparing both numbers and intangibles, the case against Suzuki being a top-15 center becomes much weaker.
Has Nick Suzuki officially entered the NHL’s top 15 centers? Based on his production and leadership, the answer might just be a well-deserved yes.