Ryan Suzuki: Sportlogiq/RDS analyst links Nick’s brother to the Habs

Right now, Nick Suzuki is the undisputed face of the Canadiens organization. The captain, who is the team’s leading scorer this season, will represent the Tricolore at the All-Star Game for the third year in a row, and is the player who best represents the team at the moment.

Cole Caufield is also a candidate, and Juraj Slafkovský could become one eventually, but right now, the Canadiens are Nick Suzuki’s team.

Over the next few years, then, the Habs will be making decisions to improve their team around their #1 center, to surround him well and keep him happy in town.

And when you look at the current state of the organization, you realize that there’s a weakness not only at forward, but also at center. And at center, the need is crying out right now with Kirby Dach, Christian Dvorak and Alex Newhook (who used to play mainly on the wing, though) all in the infirmary.

This is one of the reasons why Billy Bertrand, a Sportlogiq analyst who also works with RDS, raised the idea of the Tricolore taking an interest in Ryan Suzuki, Nick’s brother.

As Bertrand notes, the Hurricanes already have plenty of depth at center right now with Sebastian Aho, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Jordan Staal, so Suzuki spends most of his time in the AHL. The 22-year-old forward has seven points in 15 AHL games this season.

And with the Hurricanes in dire need in front of net right now, trading a guy like Suzuki (who currently seems blocked) in return for immediate help in front of net makes sense.

Because even if Jake Allen is having a rough time right now (and other teams, including the Kings, might be interested), he’s still an interesting option for an aspiring team. And with the Hurricanes not fond of rental players, the fact that he’s also under contract next season could earn him some points with the Hurricanes.

Cayden Primeau is another option, experiencing much the same situation in Montreal as Ryan Suzuki did in Carolina when he didn’t play much NHL hockey due to congestion, but the Hurricanes might prefer an experienced goaltender to help them in their playoff race.

We’ll have to wait and see, but Ryan Suzuki could indeed be an interesting fit for the Tricolore in a deal involving one of the Habs’ goalies, and that would be a wonderful story. And if Ryan has the same attitude as his brother (an attitude the latter already had in junior, incidentally, when Nick’s OHL boarding family revealed to Jessica Lapinski that he was already a “good kid” back then), he’ll quickly become a crowd favorite in Montreal.

In bursts

– André Tourigny had kind words for Kaiden Guhle, Justin Barron and Alex Newhook. He also praised Kirby Dach’s attitude, which he described as exemplary.

Andre Tourigny On Guhle: ” He’s A Full Package For Me “

Head Coach of the Arizona Coyotes joins @grantmccagg and @GaumondShayne.

Full pod
Watch: https://t.co/BM47VXUsOT
Listen: https://t.co/9Y65qoWrs4#thesickpodcast pic.twitter.com/I0ocnKhh5B

– The Sick Podcast – Recrutes Draftcast (@sickpodnhldraft) January 6, 2024

– Impressive.

– RHP, one step closer to a comeback, turns 25 today. Happy anniversary.

– Let’s hope he avoided the worst.

– A major league fight.

Early candidate for FIGHT OF THE YEAR

An absolute tilt from Boko Imama and Tyrel Bauer https://t.co/BRJ6qeNcis pic.twitter.com/RZIH89kUyX

– Belleville Senators (@BellevilleSens) January 6, 2024