Nick Suzuki’s Stellar Evolution: Charting Progress and Dominance for the Montreal Canadiens.
As one of the NHL’s youngest teams, the Montreal Canadiens are witnessing significant strides in the development of their young players this season. While noteworthy improvements have been observed in various players, such as Juraj Slafkovsky, Jayden Struble, and Cayden Primeau, one player in particular has exceeded expectations without garnering sufficient recognition: Nick Suzuki.
Suzuki is not merely on track to achieve a career-high in points this season; he is also exhibiting underlying statistics that position him as the ideal candidate for the team’s top center position. Despite Suzuki being identified as the team’s best center in the long-term rebuild plans, concerns arose over his performance in the last two years.
In his initial two seasons in the league, Suzuki showcased a smart style of play, contributing to impressive possession metrics with percentages well above 50 in key areas like shot control, high-danger shots, and expected goals. However, a notable decline occurred in these metrics in subsequent years. Suzuki’s percentages plummeted below 50, indicating a shift from controlling the game’s flow to struggling to maintain possession.
Several factors contributed to this decline. Suzuki played on one of the league’s weakest teams, enduring consecutive seasons with record-setting man-games lost due to injuries. The lack of consistency in his line partners exacerbated the situation, with Suzuki frequently playing alongside wingers below NHL replacement level. Consequently, opponents could simplify their game plan: shut down Suzuki, win the game.
This season, however, presents a different narrative. Suzuki’s partnership with Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield offers a level of consistency previously lacking. Even before this line’s formation, Suzuki’s individual numbers were already noteworthy. While playing with Slafkovsky and Caufield has undoubtedly contributed to strong results, Suzuki’s performance without them remains impressive. His control of shots exceeds 50%, a significant improvement compared to the team’s overall control of under 47% when Suzuki is off the ice.
Nick Suzuki decided it was time for another goal.
2-0 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/tbxLlHXRFL
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) December 10, 2023
What stands out prominently are Suzuki’s impacts on high-danger shots and expected goals. He maintains control over approximately 55% of high-danger chances and 53% of expected goals, contrasting with the Canadiens’ overall struggles, ranking fifth-worst in the league with just 46.6% control of expected goals.
Suzuki is not only leading the Canadiens in scoring this season but has also evolved into a top-line center capable of consistently producing strong underlying statistics. This transformation is particularly encouraging for a team that has faced challenges maintaining a high level of play throughout the season. As Suzuki emerges as a reliable force on the ice, the Canadiens can look forward to sustained success with their young star leading the way.
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