Suzuki’s Heroics and a Habs Cry for Help

When Nick Suzuki was overlooked by Team Canada for the 4-Nations Face Off, many questioned the selection committee—and for good reason. A 200-foot center with strong faceoff numbers, averaging a point per game, is not someone to ignore in a high-stakes tournament. Later, it was hinted that Suzuki’s previous refusal to play for Canada at the World Championships may have played a role, suggesting a possible retaliatory move by Hockey Canada.

At the time of writing, the Canadiens’ center ranks eighth in scoring among NHL centers. His 71 points in 68 games place him in elite company alongside established names like Sidney Crosby, Sam Reinhart, Jack Hughes, and Matt Duchene.

Since the 4-Nations break, Suzuki has been on fire, tying for the scoring lead among centers with Connor McDavid and Roope Hintz, each tallying 19 points. That’s one more than both Leon Draisaitl and Nathan MacKinnon.

What makes Suzuki’s performance even more remarkable is the context. Most top centers benefit from strong secondary scoring and productive second-line support. Suzuki does not. The last time he had that advantage was when Sean Monahan was still with the Canadiens. Without a legitimate second-line threat, opposing teams can focus entirely on shutting down Suzuki’s line, knowing that Montreal’s other forward groups lack firepower.

Comparison of First and Second-Line Centers Across the NHL:

*Casey Mittelstadt before that

To illustrate just how dire Montreal’s secondary scoring situation is: Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook have been slotted as second-line centers all season, yet their combined production barely surpasses that of a single depth forward on other teams. The second-leading scorer among Canadiens centers is fourth-line pivot Jake Evans, who has 31 points—but just 8 in his last 32 games. Even third-line center Christian Dvorak has outproduced Dach and Newhook, ranking third among Montreal centers with 25 points.

Help Wanted

With Kent Hughes hinting at offseason trades, the search for a true second-line center is a pressing need. But instead of randomly speculating on names, let’s assess the team’s requirements logically.

Montreal already has right-handed centers in Suzuki and Evans, along with right-shot prospects Owen Beck, Oliver Kapanen, and Michael Hage. However, the organization lacks a left-handed center who can take strong-side faceoffs and provide reliable two-way play. Re-signing Dvorak would not adequately address this gap.

The ideal candidate must:

1. Be a left-handed center
2. Provide secondary offense
3. Be efficient in the faceoff circle
4. Play a strong 200-foot game

The following list of potential targets does not factor in no-trade clauses or personal preferences. While fans often speculate on whether a player would want to join Montreal, this exercise focuses purely on hockey fit—leaving it up to management to sell the vision to any potential acquisition.

Potential Second-Line Center Targets:

With Kent Hughes suggesting he may be willing to overpay in assets for a second-line center, this list offers a mix of options across various age groups. Whether Montreal seeks a short-, mid-, or long-term solution, players like McTavish, Lundell, or Hayton present intriguing possibilities.