Nick Suzuki ranked 16th on NHL Network centre rankings

The Montreal Canadiens have struggled with centre depth for some time, and former general manager Marc Bergevin had his issues fixing the situation. However, bringing Nick Suzuki, while unknowingly at the time, would be the exact acquisition that the organization needed.

Many have questioned whether Suzuki is a number one centre, arguing that he doesn't score enough and that there is plenty of other nonsense. But, Habs fans know all too well that Suzuki is a special player - a leader, who plays the game on the full 200-foot sheet of ice and doesn't cheat or take shifts off. He also impacts the game offensively with his great vision, playmaking, and laser shot.

So, the argument that he isn't a number-one centre is laughable unless the Habs draft a player who unseats him. Otherwise, the Habs don't need to address their top-line centre role, the top line did major work last year and Suzuki, did his best job to mentor his young wingers. If anything, the second-line role is slightly less figured out, simply because Kirby Dach's health has been a question mark and Alex Newhook seems more suitable as a winger.

But Suzuki, was ranked ahead of the likes of Tim Stuetzle, Robert Thomas, Mika Zibanejad and Nico Hischier. That is some pretty good company to be apart of, nevermind to be ranked ahead of. The group ahead of him, are all number one centre's that opposing teams game plan for.

Suzuki - A point per game centre?

The biggest question now is whether or not Suzuki is capable of scoring 82 points through 82 games. It's hard to argue that he can't, considering that his linemates - Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky are not going to regress, at least they aren't expected to. Each of the guys ranked ahead of Suzuki are players that are capable of scoring 85-point seasons and the Canadiens are only going to continue surrounding Suzuki and the young core with the best supporting cast possible.

Suzuki had the clutch gene when he was playing in the Ontario Hockey League and he has only made his game more dynamic since then. If anything, his shot has gotten so good, that it surprises goalies. They expect that he will dish the puck to Slafkovsky or Caufield, but he has a shot that beats goalies clean.

Lastly, his passing is deadly accurate and he can keep defenders guessing with his patience. He can look off a defender, then when they over-commit he slides a pass to a spot that only he sees with pinpoint precision. I suspect that Patrik Laine and the rest of the group are going to get some great setups that they don't expect and Suzuki might still have another level to reach after the 2024-25 campaign.