Many are wondering if Nick Suzuki is really a true #1 center or if he is just a very good 2nd line center.
As for me, there is no doubt that he is a real #1.
He can do anything and it’s hard to find fault with him.
He’ll never be a 50-goal or 100-point scorer, but he’s worth his weight in gold.
Today on BPM Sports, Renaud Lavoie brought up a very interesting topic during his daily column in The Morning Club.
According to what the renowned journalist reports, NHL Network made its ranking of the 50 best current NHL players and Nick Suzuki was not in the top 50.
Lavoie didn’t really understand this, especially when he saw that the young 22-year-old German and Ottawa Senators forward, Tim Stutzle, was in front of the CH captain.
Still according to Lavoie, Stutzle is ranked 39th by NHL Network.
And a debate has started as to whether Stutzle is currently better than Suzuki.
Personally, there’s no doubt that Suzuki’s versatility and consistency make him a better player (currently) than Tim Stutzle.
Moreover, Renaud Lavoie also doubts that Stutzle will reach the 90-point plateau again, he who did so in 2022-23.
It’s a bit far-fetched for my taste, but I understand what Lavoie means.
He doesn’t believe Stutzle will become a much better player than he already is.
The German simply had a much faster progression curve than most young prospects. The fact that he collected 90 points at 20-21 years old does not absolutely mean that he will have 100-point seasons for sure.
As for Suzuki, Lavoie sees a very constant and longer progression curve.
Stutzle has talent in spades, but to win, Suzuki is the better choice between the two.
A little later in the day, during the broadcast of Return of the AthletesMartin Lemay asked a very interesting question to Martin Biron and Steve Bégin.
What would their choice be as a duo between Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky, or Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk to start a team?
The two former NHLers chose the Ottawa Senators duo.
In fact, this is not surprising, especially if we are talking about the present day.
Every team needs a player like Brady Tkachuk: a guy who can score 40 goals, who brings a very interesting physical aspect and who constantly bothers the opponent.
However, looking into the near future, I believe that Slaf could become a similar type of player, but with a notch more than the American.
As for the centers, my choice is already made: Suzuki.
The question was very pertinent, but Suzuki is the one who tips the scales towards his duo.
In a burst
– I like the idea.
– Will Mark Giordano find a buyer in the autonomy market?
– A little message from Jordan Harris.
