Pierre McGuire Believes Nick Suzuki Can Be A 90-100 Point Producer With Improved Powerplay

Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is on pace for the best statistical season of his young career.

One prominent NHL analyst believes Suzuki hasn't yet scratched the surface of his potential. Pierre McGuire stated on an episode of The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro that Suzuki has the potential to be a franchise number-one centre with the Habs. He took things a step further when he spoke about the idea, in his belief, that Suzuki has 90-100 point potential.

The way this would happen is by the Canadiens' powerplay improving, in which case Suzuki would pad his stats with an increase in his special teams points. At this juncture, the power play group will remain the same, in terms of deployed players. But there are a few players that could be in the mix next year, but more likely over the next few years, to join the Canadiens.

Alex Newhook's emergence as an option to fill the void left by Sean Monahan's departure is promising for the club. Especially when you consider that even if he doesn't remain on the number one unit, he has likely cemented himself as a legitimate option for one of the two powerplay units. That is no shot at Newhook, but a positive for the talent that the Canadiens have, either injured or yet to make their Canadiens debut.

Upon Kirby Dach's arrival in October, fresh off a full offseason to get healthy and recover from injury, he is likely to find a spot on the top unit. Dach can threaten as a shooter, and his deceptiveness will create breakdowns against the opposition. Like Juraj Slafkovsky, Dach has the size (6 foot 4) to screen goaltenders and his hand-eye coordination could be a huge addition to the Habs powerplay.

It's not likely that whoever the Habs draft in June will join the Canadiens for at least a season, maybe two, but it is likely that said player will be a fit on the powerplay. The likeliest scenario is the Canadiens nab a top 10 pick, and in the predicted top 10 for the 2024 NHL Draft, there are some talented offensive players.

Help Is On The Way

When McGuire mentions players that will join the Canadiens and help the Habs special teams, it's hard not to instantly think of one player.

Lane Hutson has ripped up the NCAA for the Boston University Terriers over the last two seasons and it's more likely than not that he joins the Habs this season. He is almost certainly going to burn the first year of his entry-level contract and within reason. When he does arrive, it will allow him to get a feel for the NHL pace.

Physically there is a bit of a concern, so sheltering him, as McGuire suggested as the seventh defenseman makes sense. He can be worked into the lineup - starting at the bottom and then working his way up - likely playing a bit of powerplay time. The writing is on the wall, eventually Hutson will leapfrog Mike Matheson as the top powerplay quarterback.

His skating and skill combination are rare for a defender, and there is nobody in Montreal who can do the things that Hutson can. Shifty and uber-talented, Hutson has all the tools to be an offensive dynamo for many years in Montreal. And when he finds some chemistry with the Habs' top players, the powerplay is likely to find another level.

Nothing is written in stone and once there are a few more pieces in place to deploy amongst the two units, there may be changes to the top unit. Joshua Roy has emerged as an interesting option and I think he is already poised to secure a spot on the second powerplay next year. Arber Xhekaj is another guy whose game has grown and the ridiculous slapshot that he possesses makes him an obvious choice for the second powerplay.

Another guy, who may be another year away from competing for a spot on the Canadiens is Logan Mailloux, who has shown great poise and mobility for the Laval Rocket along the blueline. Aside from Hutson, I would have to say that Mailloux is the next-best offensive defender for the Habs. He is big, and shifty and has a heavy, accurate shot that he isn't shy to use.

When he does arrive in Montreal full-time, I can see him as an option, perhaps opposite Xhekaj on the second unit. The pair built some chemistry during Xhekaj's conditioning stint with Laval, and I think that is reason enough to see what they can do together in the NHL. His defensive play and awareness have improved, but with another year to polish that aspect of his game, he could be a threat to crack the club to start the 2025-26 season.