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Nick Suzuki had an impressive season in 2023-24. He may not have been able to reach the 80-point plateau, but he got even better to further solidify his place as the Canadiens’ number-one center.
On Wednesday, Suzuki received some recognition from the folks at NHL Network. The network unveiled its list of the NHL’s top 20 center players, and the Habs captain is among them for the first time in his career.
Nick Suzuki is ranked 16th best center in the league according to NHL Network… so I guess you could say he’s a legitimate 1st center, right?
#CH #Habs #Canadiens
– Marc-Olivier Beaudoin (@MOBeaudoin1) August 21, 2024
#CH
Presenting the Top 20 Centers Right Now! Thoughts?
– NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 21, 2024
#NHLTopPlayersObviously, this ranking wasn’t just based on points. If that’s all it was, the Habs captain would have slipped slightly.
With 77 points this season, Suzuki ranked 17th among the NHL’s top scorers among centers.
What has helped the Habs’ center’s cause is his ability to play both ways of the rink. He’s certainly capable of finding the back of the net or creating scoring opportunities, but he’s also excellent defensively, and a great rebounder on the attack.
What’s reassuring is that Nick Suzuki ranked ahead of other excellent center players such as Tim Stutzle, Robert Thomas and Mika Zibanejad.
However, it’s curious to see Connor Bedard ahead of Suzuki in this ranking, when he only played 68 games this season and finished with a -44 differential. There’s no doubt that Bedard will become a better center than Suzuki, but I don’t think he is yet.
Only two “second centers” are ahead of the captain in this ranking: Leon Draisaitl and J.T. Miller. Nico Hischier, for his part, is ranked 20th.
Although these three players are second centers on their teams, they could occupy the number-one center position on the majority of NHL teams. This is yet another argument for Suzuki’s status as a true first center in the NHL.
Overtime
– A nice visit.
Hockey Hall of Famer Jaromir Jagr visits McGill Redbirds dressing room prior to preseason game in Czechia against Kladno (Aug. 21/24): @StuCowan1 @DavidAmber @Nick_CoteRDS @walsha @bulletinsportif @BenSteiner00 @USPORTSca @OUAsport
– McGill Athletics (@McGillAthletics) August 21, 2024
– Magnifique.
Marc-Andre Fleury is ready for the upcoming season… starting with this unreal mask reveal
– TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 21, 2024
via @griffairbrush – Still, he did an excellent job.
Backup QB Davis Alexander knows the Alouettes are Cody Fajardo’s team via @mtlgazette via @HerbZurkowsky1 #CFL #LCF #Alouettes
– CFL News (@CFL_News) August 21, 2024
– He hasn’t played a game with the Blue Jays.
Canadian Joey Votto hangs up his glove at the age of 40!
– RDS (@RDSca) August 21, 2024
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