Some will say “only in Montreal”… I don’t care! Although I enjoy the uniqueness of Montreal pot when it comes to Canada.
The Canadian has played six games so far and played his seventh game tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Pascal Vincent.
The club’s record is quite respectable with three wins, one overtime loss and two regular matches. CH has seven ranking points after six matches.
And by the way, it’s a Canadian show, even if nothing is perfect. The audience rarely leaves the Bell Center with an expressionless face, and the talented cast gives them a run for their money.
However, the performance of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield is worrying.
I find it a bit dishonest to link Caufield to Suzuki from the very beginning. The two young players are inseparable both on and off the ice, they have developed a great friendship.
However, it is not at all right to systematically put Caufield’s name next to Suzuki’s when criticizing the captain’s performance. fair.
Caufield has 6 points, including 3 goals, in 6 games. Even if you don’t see it for long periods of time during the game or notice it on the ice, its production continues.
Even more confusing, when it comes to performance, Suzuki deserves to be left alone.
It is normal for Caufield to be invisible throughout the match and suddenly appear and score the winning goal in overtime, just like in the Washington match…
In his defense, Suzuki has much heavier responsibilities. The captain is the team’s first center and his role involves a lot of handling of pucks and time of possession.
He is the expected director or architect both in his own trio and in the first wave of the power play.
In this case, Suzuki fell short of expectations after six games.
Due to his sensitive position and the many responsibilities that come with it, he is not very visible on the ice.
This always affects his production, which is limited to three assists in 6 games, including two assists in the same game against the Caps and Ovechkin.
In other words, in the other 5 duels, Suzuki was able to collect only one small pass, despite playing on average over 20 minutes and constantly using the numerical advantage.
I am a fan of Nick Suzuki and believe that when the stakes are high he will be bigger than the big men at the heart of the matter.
If the Canadian ever wants to win his 25th Stanley Cup, I know his chances will be better with Nick Suzuki included in a committee of talented center players.
I also agree that trying to help Suzuki by switching the right winger is not normal.
As a center forward, Suzuki has a mission to make wingers better… so we shouldn’t be looking for a winger to make Suzuki better, as if we’re trying to run the machine in reverse.
But since this is necessary and Josh Anderson is not, it is not the solution and never will be.
Because Rafael Harvey-Pinard cannot be a permanent employee of the first trio, but occasionally serves as a firefighter when fires are intervened.
Because Kirby Dach won’t play anymore this season and Christian Dvorak won’t play another big week.
According to the above, Sean Monahan has been given a job at the center of the team’s second line…
Since then, since then… Who is the best candidate to try to revive Nick Suzuki’s sustainable production?
Surprisingly, I would give Tanner Pearson a serious audition.
When Pearson was acquired, no one bothered to buy tickets… some even wondered if he would play every night and certainly not on the fourth base.
However, Antoine Roussel saw excellent recovery potential for Pearson with the Canadian player.
Antoine Roussel was right, and rightly so, he played with Pearson in Vancouver for over two years and knows him very well.
So… because Pearson has the size to create space for Suzuki and Caufield, two smaller bodies.
Because he is experienced, his skating combines very well with that of the two best offensive players in the flannel.
Especially because of his understanding game It’s up to the needs of a center like Suzuki.
Honestly, I think the unheralded Tanner Pearson should take his chances with Suzuki and Caufield.
Can Pearson continue to play 18-19 minutes a night? The only way to find out is to try. One thing is for sure, with 5 points including 3 goals in six games, he certainly can’t hurt the Canadian two-star attacker!