As part of the build-up to the first-round playoff series between the Capitals and the Canadiens, we will be looking at some of Montreal’s most important players to know…
Nick Suzuki
#14 | C
Height: 5’11” | Weight: 207
Born: August 10, 1999
Birthplace: London, ON
Acquired: Drafted by Vegas in the first round (13th pick) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft; traded to the Canadiens on September 18, 2018
Scouting Report:
A smart offensive center who thinks the game at a fast pace and makes very good decisions on a consistent basis. Though he may not be the biggest player on the ice, Suzuki plays a thick, sturdy game and is hard to knock off the puck, especially when he has his feet moving. He’s an excellent skater that knows his own game well. Skilled with the puck and has a high level of hockey sense. This blend of talent and work ethic is hard to come by, invaluable in the long run.
Elite Prospects (2017)
Why You Should Know Who He Is: In many ways, Suzuki is the engine of the Habs forward group. Suzuki heads up Montreal’s top line alongside Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield, and that line is going to be counted on to produce a significant amount of offense. Despite already playing in the league for six seasons and going on one run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2021, Suzuki is still only 25 years old, and he’s been relied on for increasingly large shares of the Montreal offense and may still be improving.
How the Caps Can Stop Him: Expect for Suzuki and the rest of his linemates to get a heavy dose of Pierre-Luc Dubois, who the Caps have relied upon this year to play key minutes against other teams best players. Dubois & co. doesn’t necessarily need to dominate these minutes, as the Caps have a significant depth edge on the rest of the Canadiens. That said, if Dubois can muck up Suzuki’s line, get in on the forecheck and keep them hemmed in their zone, that will go a long way to mitigating the Canadiens offensive punch and making this a short and decisive series for Washington.