Will Nick “Nature Boy” Suzuki become a true 1C?

[DramaticGloveSave]

Question is simple. For me a true 1C is a C who you can lean on in every situation and can matchup head to head with the elite Cs in the league. Legitimately a top 20 C in hockey.

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[BB06]

Depends on if he head taps Crosby and steals his talent.

 

[The Moose is Loose]

I doubt it. Maybe a lower end 1C but not the caliber that all the cup winning teams have

 

[Master P]

I think he'll be a really good 2nd line center. Thats not a shot at him either. I like his game and think he's a good player.

 

[Fatass]

I see the Habs as having two really good 200 foot number 2 centres. Kotka and Suzu are good players, and the team can definitely win building around them.

 

[Dominance]

To those saying no, I’d be really interested in having the rationale fully explained. Just because he was not a top-10 pick? His statistical progression lines up nicely against many former and current players who would definitely be considered “true 1Cs” and he obviously has the required vision and puck skills.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

I think anyone who watched him during the playoffs would answer yes myself...

 

[Langdon Alger]

Nature boy?

 

[Treb]

Nature boy?

Reference to David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things".

 

[Langdon Alger]

Reference to David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things".

I see. I thought maybe he was into bird watching or something.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Depends on if he head taps Crosby and steals his talent.

 

[Mickey Marner]

I think he can be a consistent 70pts guy with a responsible all-around game. Not sure if that's a "true #1" or not.

 

[Langdon Alger]

Maybe he’ll be similar to a guy like Chris Drury.

 

[Eltuna]

I would say no but my definition of a 1C is someone that you can win a cup with if the rest of your team is adequately built (ie if Suzuki was your 1C and you had Jones, Hedman, and Makar you could win but that’s not realistic). If you can’t realistically win a cup with him as your 1C then what’s the point?

looking at the past cup finalists of the 2010 decade you will see Crosby, Kopitar, Toews, Backstrom, Bergeron, Sedin, Giroux/Richards, Zajac, Stepan, Stamkos, ROR, Thornton, Johansen, and Karlsson.

Of the winners I don’t think Suzuki compares favourably to anyone. Of the losers Stepan and Karlsson stick out the most as players Suzuki could definitely become one day. Ryjo and Zajac as well but they were pretty decent during those runs, and in Johansens case he had an unreal defence.

Personally I find it hard to imagine Suzuki as the 1C on a cup winning team so voted no, but he has showed a lot of promise so it’s not impossible for him to get there.

 

[hockeynorth]

I see Suzuki as a real high end 2C

 

[koyvoo]

The question asks “will he” where it should probably ask “could he” so I suppose I understand the uncertainty.

But to those voting no, if they have watched him in 2020, my question would be, what more exactly would you need to see from a 20-21 year old to vote yes?

 

[CraigsList]

I went with no...

He could be a 1C like Monahan, but I don’t think he’s the one that should be 1C if you’re trying to win championships.

 

[Nabrules]

League average to slightly below average but yes a 1C caliber player.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Likely no by the metric given in the OP of a top 20 elite C that goes up against the best in the game. It's not impossible he'll become that but I can't realistically say yes "he will" become that player.

 

[Rude Dog]

I am high on Suzuki but see him as a tweener first line center but more likely a very good second line guy. Very high hockey IQ. I like his chances much more than KK. I am not buying the hype on him yet. Disappears far more often than he shows up.

 

[NotLeddy]

Question is simple. For me a true 1C is a C who you can lean on in every situation and can matchup head to head with the elite Cs in the league. Legitimately a top 20 C in hockey.

A player can be your definition of a 1C and still have 20 or more other centers in the league who are better than them. There are lots of great centers in the NHL.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

A player can be your definition of a 1C and still have 20 or more other centers in the league who are better than them. There are lots of great centers in the NHL.

Yep, I could see him being a 1C like Claude Giroux. Hasn't won a cup but not because he's not good enough

 

[Pitaya]

incredible

 

[Makar Goes Fast]

Reference to David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things".

Rick flair isn’t happy

 

[Karl Eriksson]

Elite level head tapper.