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Splitting up Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki might not be a bad idea

 Manuel Sperandio-Lemay
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Splitting up Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki might not be a bad idea
Credit: Nov 12, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki (14) celebrates with teammates including forward Cole Caufield (22) after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
The 2023-2024 season for the Montreal Canadiens will be an intriguing one.

A number of issues must be resolved, including the surplus of forwards. The CH has 14 forwards on one-way NHL contracts. There’s also Juraj Slafkovsky, who is on his rookie contract and could be traded down to the Laval Rocket.

Michael Pezzetta could very well be the 13th forward in the line-up and used against stronger clubs. With the arrival of Ryan Reaves in the Atlantic Division, as well as the return of Milan Lucic with the Boston Bruins, Pezz should remain busy this season.

However, one of the questions most frequently asked by fans and experts alike is that of the ideal trio mate for Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.

Several options are available to the Tricolore.

Marc P. Dupont of Montreal Hockey News has written an excellent article on a number of topics concerning the CH’s upcoming season.

I invite you to read it.

The keeper situation, the ideal trio mate for Suzuki and Caufield, and a few words about Lane Hutson’s brother Cole are among the subjects of Marc P. Dupont’s paper.

When asked which player should play with them, Dupont tossed out a few possible ideas, but one stood out.

Josh Anderson and Kirby Dach regularly come to mind, having enjoyed some good times alongside the CH’s two young stars.

Sean Monahan and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard are also enviable options, as they are capable of keeping up with the two youngsters.

The arrival of Alex Newhook could also be a game-changer, as Newhook is an excellent skater with good field hockey intelligence, as well as being very reliable defensively.

Personally, I think Newhook and Juraj Slafkovsky should be given a chance on the first line this season.

But there’s another option, which I share with Marc P. Dupont, and that’s to separate Suzuki and Caufield, in order to balance the lines.

In reality, it’s not that far-fetched. The Habs’ two star players play very well together, but Suzuki is the type of player who can perform with any player.

As for Caufield, we know very well that he’s a natural scorer, so he has to be with a very good playmaker. Kirby Dach is, in my opinion, the best facilitator on the team, because his ceiling is very high, and he has great size, magic hands and incredible game vision.

A number of trio options are possible, but I think that with these lines, there’s plenty to drink in Montreal.

Juraj Slafkovsky – Nick Suzuki – Josh Anderson
Alex Newhook – Kirby Dach – Cole Caufield
Sean Monahan – Christian Dvorak – Brendan Gallagher
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – Jake Evans / Rem Pitclick / Joel Armia / Mike Hoffman / Michael Pezzetta

RHP has no choice but to be one of the regulars.

An energetic player like him is very important for a bottom-6 team. Dvorak, Pitlick, Hoffman and Armia are players who could be traded, but you need interest from other teams.

The factremains that my top-6 is set in stone, should Slafkovsky have an excellent training camp and not be demoted to the AHL.

Changes are likely to take place between now and the start of next season, but what would be your ideal trios?


In gusto

– The Quebecer had a very good season in the AHL in 2022-2023.

– Steph Curry is probably an alien.

– The 36-year-old veteran will continue his career in his native country.

– How do you like Lionel Messi in his new colors?

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