Point per match: Nick Suzuki responds to his DG

In recent weeks, Nick Suzuki has taken his game to another level. While his trio-mates, Cole Caufield, are experiencing slumps, he’s stepped up his game and is playing like a number 1 center.

In fact, in the last 15 games, only Auston Matthews has more goals than him. Suzuki has 13 goals in his last 15, while the Leafs’ Matthews has 14.

However, the trigger may have been last January 15, and it didn’t come from within the team or its head coach.

Arpon Basu mentioned something interesting on the @BasuAndGodin

On Jan. 15, Kent Hughes held his midseason press conference. He was asked about the importance of acquiring a PPG player.

Nick Suzuki said he watched the press conference that day after practice.

Since Jan. 15: pic.twitter.com/HR4IPyl2a5

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 6, 2024

That day, Kent Hughes held a press conference during which he mentioned the importance of acquiring a one-point-per-game player.

Suzuki’s stats since then? 26 points in 20 games.

He got the message, because yes, he did hear what his general manager said. Arpon Basu mentioned it in his podcast with Marc-Antoine Godin.

It’s quite interesting because you can feel Suzuki on a mission. He’s showing that he has what it takes to become a true number 1 center, even when the Habs are a competitive team.

His celebration yesterday against Nashville is a fine example of the message he’s sending to everyone, even Hughes.

And let’s not forget that he’s still young, and his best hockey is still ahead of him. Kirby Dach is often talked about as the number 1 center of the future, but Suzuki deserves his chance to prove that, until proven otherwise, he’s the right man for the job.

In brief

– Three-game suspension.

Calgary’s Martin Pospisil has been suspended for three games for boarding Seattle’s Vince Dunn. https://t.co/wayiPLdXHs

– NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 7, 2024

– The Penguins player is in demand.

Guentzel update: Not definitive, but sounds like teams in mix are CAR, FLA, NYR, VAN and VGK.

Unless something changes, belief is FLA + VAN have made strong push but don’t have goods to pull it off.

Of note: VGK could potentially create more cap room if Martinez goes on LTIR.

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 7, 2024

– Ken Holland quite happy.

“We got Henrique at 25 cents on the dollar and Carrick at 50 cents on the dollar. Gives us cap space to do something else. I will talk to teams about a veteran defenceman.” @EdmontonOilers Ken Holland.

– Gene Principe (@GenePrincipe) March 6, 2024

– Not a good ending.

My sources: relations between Avs core players turned sour within last two weeks toward Johansen. It was a problem that was addressed today. But Johansen side of story yet to be told. Bottom line: there was friction in room

– Adrian Dater (@adater) March 7, 2024

– A good option for Roy.

Does Joshua Roy still have something to learn in the AHL?

Antoine Roussel would welcome the chance:

“When you make it big in the playoffs, that’s when the organization looks at you and falls in love with you even more.”

At de @LangloisMario pic.twitter.com/PLFWSYCvno

– 98,5 Sports (@985Sports) March 7, 2024