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

[Cenzo_]

Nick is good but voted no because Habs are cursed regarding centers, 24 cups was the prize for eternal mediocrity in the center position

 

[tucker3434]

Not based on the definition of the OP. I think he could be a 1b/2a type. It would be rare he’s the best center in a playoff matchup.

 

[Bleeker]

I dont think he have what it takes. I can seen him being a consistent 60 points #2 center which is great

 

[alasania94]

I dont think he have what it takes. I can seen him being a consistent 60 points #2 center which is great

but he's already a 60 point center. and he's 21. and he's in his second season in the NHL. lol

 

[The Abusement Park]

I see a fringe 1C. I don’t think you can win a cup with him as your 1C but I think he’ll be a guy who’s good for 60pts and good two way play.

 

[surixon]

Hard to say at this point. He is still really young and has a good development arc to date. I think has shown he will at minimum be a solid 2C but that last jump to high end one C is a pretty big one. He has good speed, a nice set of skill and looks to play hard so I think he has a shot to get to that level.

 

[A1LeafNation]

I say he does it.

 

[Michael HOMERUNing]

He looks legit. Hopefully the Leafs can pick him up for their 2nd line once Tavares is retired...

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

but he's already a 60 point center. and he's 21. and he's in his second season in the NHL. lol

Hes never come close to 60 pts . His career high is 41 pts and he's paced for 53 over his career thusfar. 2 c for me .

 

[alasania94]

Hes never come close to 60 pts . His career high is 41 pts and he's paced for 53 over his career thusfar. 2 c for me .

59.5 point pace over 82 games this year. He's in his second season in the NHL lol

 

[TS Quint]

I think Suzuki turns out to be the type of center where if he is your 1C you are in trouble, if he is your 2C you are doing great.

 

[Regal]

59.5 point pace over 82 games this year. He's in his second season in the NHL lol

You can't really assume a player will score at the same rate over a full season as he did in a partial season when that scoring rate is completely new for him. Especially for someone like Suzuki who had some pretty drastic swings throughout the year (12 points in 12 games, then 15 points in 33 games, then 14 points in his last 11 games) He could have easily gone through another slump. Lots of players also don't have huge jumps in scoring when they've had early success, and he's already getting over 18 minutes of ice time. People here also tend to use 60 point scorer to mean someone in the 60s. Say he would have scored in the high 50s this year over a full season. Being regularly in the mid-60s through his prime really wouldn't be that surprising.

 

[bsu]

By your definition.... no.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I think he'll be considered a top 20 C in hockey at his peak. How long that peak will last is unclear.

 

[sparxx87]

I think so. He already plays a very mature game and the instincts are there. Still needs to improve but I think he’s on that trajectory.

 

[JohnnyBerts]

Too soon to tell. After watching Draisaitl go from rags to riches, anything’s possible. Personally he strikes me as the kind of player that excels with higher end talent because he reads the game well and I’m not sure Montreal has that at the moment.

 

[Captain97]

I really feel like he becomes a Ryan O'Reilly type centre. 70 points but plays all situations being very good defensively. Not traditional high end 1C but the defensive play will make up for the not being at a point per game.

 

[Mrb1p]

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.

Hes already twenty or maybe fifty times more impactful on the ice than Monahan, get out of here with this crap.

Monahan isnt a 1C, hes a bad 2C.

 

[Mrb1p]

How is a 21 YO on pace for 60 points while playing great two way hockey against top lines on probably the worst offensive team in the league... going to peak as a 60 pts 2way guy?

Do you guys even think for a second???

 

[tucker3434]

How is a 21 YO on pace for 60 points while playing great two way hockey against top lines on probably the worst offensive team in the league... going to peak as a 60 pts 2way guy?

Do you guys even think for a second???

I remember when wings fans were certain that Gustav Nyquist was about to become the next Datsyuk, because he had a 40 goal pace in his first season. Doesn't always work out that way.

 

[Crabapple]

I don't think he'll be a top 10 C or anything, but I think he'll still be a 1C

 

[Canadiens Ghost]

Top 32 I can absolutely see it happening but top 20 will be challenging. Not impossible but for now I'm voting "no".

 

[Mrb1p]

I remember when wings fans were certain that Gustav Nyquist was about to become the next Datsyuk, because he had a 40 goal pace in his first season. Doesn't always work out that way.

Nyquist was 24 when he played his first full season.

 

[Dondini]

I remember when wings fans were certain that Gustav Nyquist was about to become the next Datsyuk, because he had a 40 goal pace in his first season. Doesn't always work out that way.

he was also like 23-24in his first full season

 

[tucker3434]

Nyquist was 24 when he played his first full season.

he was also like 23-24in his first full season

I'm not saying it made sense. I know it didn't. Mostly, I'm just saying development isn't always this neat little upward sloping graph. It tends to be more chaotic, and a great pace at a young age doesn't always lead to big leaps later. Nico Hischier is a good example. He's never improved much on his rookie pace.