Kent Hughes may Have Acquired a Better Center Than Nick Suzuki by Going After Young Kirby Dach Last Summer, According to David Ettedgui
Nick Suzuki is about to play his fifth season with the Canadiens and his second as the team's captain. It's fairly accurate to say that he is the number one center and, despite his young age, he is an undisputed leader within the team.
But one might ask, is the Canadiens' number 14 among the best center players in the NHL?
Initially, we would tend to say no, because his tally of 66 points in 2022-2023 placed him 74th among the league's top scorers, but without the injury sustained by Cole Caufield last January, Suzuki would certainly have scored more points.
However, as reported by the site Habsolumentfan.com, one expert does not see Suzuki as the number one center with the CH in a few years.
During the discussion on the podcast The Sick Podcasts with Tony Marinaro, David Ettedgui sees rather a certain Kirby Dach as the future center player on the Canadiens' first line.
Here are his explanations:
I'm not saying Dach is going to score more points in a season than Suzuki, but he is your big guy who is going to put up 60 to 75 points per season, play the tough minutes, be a presence, complement two very talented wingers.
Obviously, Suzuki will have a say in the Canadiens' upcoming successes, but the potential of number 77 is very much present and in two years, he could surpass Suzuki according to Ettedgui.
Quite interesting remarks which are not necessarily a disapproval of Nick Suzuki, because between you and me, if Kirby Dach reaches his full potential in Montreal, the Canadiens will not be in a bad position with Suzuki and Dach as the first two center players.
The future will tell us if the Canadiens will reach the promised land
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 15 | 322 ANSWERS Kent Hughes may Have Acquired a Better Center Than Nick Suzuki by Going After Young Kirby Dach Last Summer, According to David Ettedgui Do you believe that Kirby Dach could surpass Nick Suzuki in the hierarchy of center players with the CH? | ||
| Yes | 204 | 63.4 % |
| No | 118 | 36.6 % |
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![Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) looks on against Team Sweden in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/531375.webp "Feb 12, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) looks on against Team Sweden in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
