Suzuki’s Rise to Elite Two-Way Player Status
The Friday Four column delves into interesting player narratives from around the NHL. This week’s topics include:
- Suzuki establishing himself as a premier two-way player
- Landeskog’s potential return and its impact on the Avalanche
- Byfield’s strong performance at a crucial time
- The Norris bet not working out for the Sabres
Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
Back in November, or even just six weeks prior, predicting the Montreal Canadiens would be in a playoff position in late March would have been met with disbelief.
Against all odds, the Canadiens are pushing for a postseason berth, defying expectations. After a dismal 1-11 stretch in early November, which dropped them to the bottom of the league, a turnaround seemed improbable. The team’s rebuilding strategy and apparent backward progress were questioned. However, the Canadiens rebounded impressively, winning 13 of 17 games between mid-December and mid-January.
This resurgence brought them back into contention briefly, but a subsequent slump of eight losses in nine games leading up to the 4 Nations tournament suggested they would be trade deadline sellers. Despite this, General Manager Kent Hughes opted to maintain the roster, a decision that has been rewarded. The team has played exceptionally well since the break, surprisingly positioning themselves in a playoff spot. The Canadiens maintain an even keel, perhaps mirroring the temperament of their captain, Nick Suzuki.
Throughout Montreal’s inconsistent season, Suzuki’s performance has been consistently strong, showing continuous improvement. His point totals have steadily increased over the past seasons: 61 points in 2021-22, 66 the following season, 77 last year, and now he’s on track to exceed 80 points. He provides stability for a team striving for consistency. Since the 4 Nations break, he has amassed 19 points in 12 games, possibly fueled by being overlooked for Team Canada selection.
Suzuki has become one of the NHL’s most underrated players. His true value is best appreciated by regular viewers. He achieves impressive offensive stats while shouldering significant defensive responsibilities. Among the top 20 NHL scorers, only four forwards begin more shifts in the defensive zone than Suzuki, and within this group, only two have fewer defensive zone giveaways. Furthermore, he boasts a plus-10 plus/minus rating on a team with a -16 goal difference.
