Purchasing an elite Nick Suzuki jersey is a great way to show your support for this talented player. The game-worn jersey features his famous no-nonsense approach and his willingness to go the extra mile for his teammates. Currently, only a few teams can boast of such a recognizable player. The Canadien’s struggles to find a player of his caliber and depth on the first line has led to a reliance on a sniper and young players.

Canadiens’ struggle to find a player of his caliber

The Montreal Canadiens have been abysmal through their first five games this season, tied for the worst start in NHL history. That’s a terrible start, especially considering they were just four games away from the Stanley Cup Final last season. Both Caufield and Suzuki have only produced one point in five games, and their combined individual expected goals (ixG) are 0.81. That ranks them sixth and eighth on the team.

The Canadiens’ quest for a centre has been long and circuitous. While Suzuki was drafted 13th overall, he was acquired from St. Louis in a deal for Jaroslav Halak. Halak was instrumental to the Canadiens’ 2010 Eastern Conference Final run.

Suzuki has played well in Montreal this season. He’s gotten better in the last few games, including his first power-play goal. But he has not been the same player as last season. While Suzuki has been improving in all areas of the game, he has struggled with faceoffs.

The Canadiens have turned their attention to their future. Mikko Suzuki has taken the first-line center role in Montreal. It’s a positive sign for Montreal’s future. In addition to their young core, they now have a young, aspiring center in Mikko Suzuki.

The Canadiens’ top-line has been hurt this season with injuries to Ondrej Palat and Brayden Point. Neither player has an estimated timetable for his return. That leaves centre Craig Stephenson to fill the void in the lineup with Evgenii Dadonov and Nicolas Roy.

Canadien’s struggles to find a third piece on first line

The Canadiens have had a rough time finding a centre to join their line. After taking Suzuki 13th overall in the 2008 draft, the Canadiens traded Lars Eller to St. Louis in exchange for Jaroslav Halak. In return, the Canadiens got Halak, who led them to the Eastern Conference Final in 2010. In the past season, the Canadiens have struggled to find a third piece on their first line, and it has hurt their chances of winning the cup.

While Suzuki is an intelligent young player, his defense has been a major concern. Losing Danault removes matchup insulation, and a team that relies on their defense will likely need to rely more on Suzuki. Having Christian Dvorak on the other side of the ice should help the Canadiens, and keeping Caufield on the top line is crucial.

Another major problem the Canadiens have faced in the past is center depth. Although the team has solid pieces in place, they need to improve in this area. Nick Suzuki, Jake Evans, and Ryan Poehling are all in various stages of development. The club has some veteran depth in the middle of the ice with Christian Dvorak and Cedric Paquette. However, Dvorak and Evans are not the long-term solution to Montreal’s center depth.

Another option for the Canadiens is to add Evans to the third line. While Evans is not a world-beater, he’s a very reliable player who can play tough minutes for Montreal at even strength. He can also contribute to scoring on the third line if Montreal acquires an elite scoring center.

The Canadiens struggle to find a third piece on their first line. They have few options to fill that spot. The only other players with center experience are Jan Mysak and Ryan Poehling. These players can be used as insurance if one of them is injured. They can also resign the injured Danault if that’s needed.

Canadien’s reliance on sniper

The Montreal Canadiens have made Nick Suzuki a big part of their trade package. While Vegas held 10% of Pacioretty’s salary, the Canadiens held 9.4%, and the Canadiens sent their second-round pick to Columbus. The deal also included Nick Suzuki, who has already played 127 games and was clutch in the playoffs.

As a sniper, Mysak has a good wrist shot with a quick release. It generates a tremendous amount of power. He’s also strong with a one-timer and snapshot. He also finds open space in defence and can get into good positions without the puck. He also has plenty of room to improve.

Canadien’s reliance on young players

The Montreal Canadiens are fresh off a Stanley Cup run, but they can’t rest on their laurels heading into the upcoming season. The sport of hockey is one that changes rapidly, so turnover is expected. However, each departure represents a challenge for the team and a golden opportunity for an individual player. As a result, the Canadiens are relying more on young players. While there is no shortage of talent, the team’s reliance on young players will be tested.

After the trade deadline, the Canadiens will decide on their next step. Most likely, they will rebuild the team, with a young core and a few key veterans remaining. As the team prepares for the postseason, the Canadiens will either play their way into the rebuild or play their way out of it.

The Canadiens have a few free agents they can re-sign this offseason. Rem Pitlick and Alexander Romanov are both free agents. Meanwhile, Cole Caufield is due for a significant raise in the 2023 offseason. Blake Allen is also an unrestricted free agent, which will act as a pressure point. Getting out of some of these commitments now will provide Montreal with flexibility in the future and make it easier to rebuild.

The Canadiens rely on young players, despite their recent success. A big part of their success is their ability to cultivate talent. They have an incredible history of developing young players and allowing them to flourish. Nevertheless, some of the young players on this team need to score some big goals to cement themselves in the lineup.

With the turnover in the organization, this season presents a perfect opportunity for the youth movement. Christian Dvorak, a 25-year-old rookie, will likely have some of the best teammates he has ever had in his NHL career. Other youth movement players will have less lofty goals but are highly prepared.

While Bergevin’s reliance on youth is a concern, it is worth noting the positives of the young players. With some of their younger players, the Canadiens are able to afford to spend more on the younger ones. They also have the advantage of having a younger, more energetic roster.