Power Play Success Will Need To Go Through Nick Suzuki
During Wednesday’s episode of the Sick Podcast, TSN’s Craig Button mentioned to Tony Marinaro that he thinks that, in order for the Power Play to bounce back from going 0/17 over the last 2 weeks, the solution begins with the puck being on captain Nick Suzuki’s stick more. Button uses a recent quote that Suzuki said recently in an interview after the news that Ivan Demidov would he demoted back down to the 2nd power-play. Suzuki told the media that he wants to have the puck on his stick and get more touches. As the president of the Nick Suzuki fan club, it’s no shocker that Button sees the Habs captain as the answer to fixing the team’s power play woes.
Nick Suzuki is the key to getting the #GoHabsGo powerplay rolling again!@CraigJButton: “How do you have more puck touches? You make sure the puck can run through his hands more often. You change the scheme”#thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/XNKFjrDz5c
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) November 20, 2025
By giving Suzuki more touches, he will essentially be given the role as the team’s main facilitator on the power-play, which Demidov took over when he brought him up to the Habs’ top unit. In past seasons, the Canadiens have been improving every year with Suzuki acting as facilitator from the right half wall. It does seem like he will be on the left side of the ice for the power play based on what has been reported, but he likely will still have the puck a lot. The only issue is that his shot from the left side of the ice seems to be less effective than the shot he used to take so often during the early years of the Habs rebuild, from inside the right faceoff circle.
Nick Suzuki – Montreal Canadiens (16)
Power Play Goal pic.twitter.com/AlZbhzd5d9— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) February 26, 2025
As good as Demidov was on the top power play unit, it got too predictable, and that’s likely the reason he was taken off the first unit rather than a lesser-skilled option, because the Habs needed someone out there who shoots the puck regularly. All he ever does is look for the pass; he has a good shot, but he rarely ever chooses to use it. Whereas Suzuki has always been a dual threat on the power play as both a passer and shooter, causing teams to not figure him out as easily as they figured out how to stop Demidov.
One of the main reasons that Demidov likely doesn’t shoot much is that he feels, as a rookie, he needs to pass off shooting chances, but at the same time, he will always look to pass the puck first. The fact that when he was on the top unit, there were he, Suzuki, Lane Hutson and even Juraj Slafkovsky, who are more likely to look for the pass, it was always deemed to fail if they couldn’t find the perfect pass. At least when Suzuki is on the right half wall, he will go for his shot if that is what is needed.
Power play goal for Montreal!
Scored by Juraj Slafkovsky with 06:18 remaining in the 1st period.
Assisted by Nick Suzuki and Lane Hutson.
Montreal: 3
Buffalo: 0#BUFvsMTL #GoHabsGo #SabreHood pic.twitter.com/RGpEQBZnS5— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) March 4, 2025
Suzuki can also simplify the game in a way that he won’t try anything fancy, but he does what is needed to get the job done. Whereas Demidov, as a teenager, always goes for the highlight reel play. The fact that Suzuki simplifies things to make everyone around him better is why, right now, he really should be the facilitator and could be the difference in helping the Habs get their power play back on the right page. The Canadiens just need to simplify the game and not try anything too difficult.
On Monday, the Canadiens were unable to get a power play; therefore, tonight we will hopefully get to see how this new power play formation works together. It’ll only be a matter of time before Demidov becomes the main playmaker along the right half wall again, but considering the Habs need to simplify things to get things to bounce back, it doesn’t really make sense for anyone but Nick Suzuki to be the facilitator as it stands.
Do you agree with Craig Button that the Habs’ power play success will ride on the shoulders of the captain for the next little while, or do you see someone else as the key to getting the power play on track?
