Calgary Flames 2017 NHL Draft Profile: C Nicholas Suzuki

With the 16th overall pick, the Calgary Flames have many names to choose from. Let’s look at a possible draft pick with C Nick Suzuki.

The options are endless for the Calgary Flames at this year’s 16th overall pick. The Flames have three needs this upcoming season: a solid top-four defenceman to play alongside TJ Brodie, a consistent primary goaltender, and a bottom-six winger.

The winger may be one of the lower of the Flames priorities this season, but nonetheless, if they decide to draft at that 16th pick, they’ll most likely go with a forward over a defenceman or a goaltender.

Everyday, we’ll be looking at one new player for a possible draft selection. Yesterday, we looked at Swedish forward Lias Andersson who seems like an ideal candidate. Today, let’s take a look at Canadian forward Nicholas Suzuki.

Who is Nicholas Suzuki?

Name: Nicholas (Nick) Suzuki

Birth place: London, Ontario, Canada

Position: C

Shoots: Right

Birthdate: 1999-08-10

Height: 5’11” / 180 cm

Weight: 83 kg / 183 lbs

Team: Owen Sound Attack

League: OHL

Stats from 2016-2017

Stats with Owen Sound Attack, OHL, Regular Season (From eliteprospects.com):

PIM

+/-

654551961051

Stats with Owen Sound Attack, OHL, Playoffs (From eliteprospects.com):

GP

PIM

+/-

1781523107

Among the OHL

Fifth among all skaters in points (96)
Fourth among all skaters in goals (45)
Seventh among all skaters in +/- (51)
Eighth in points among all skaters in the playoffs (23)

Former Drafts

From eliteprospects.com

2015

Round 1, 14th overall: Owen Sound Attack, OHL Priority Selection

Rankings for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft

#11 by ISS Hockey
- “Moving up the rankings. Recently recorded a career-high six points with a goal and five assists.”
#16 by McKeen’s Hockey
#19 by Future Considerations
#26 by Hockeyprospect.com
#10 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)

Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek ranked him at 23rd overall in March, which is two spots higher than their previous rankings in January, claiming that he has “A high hockey IQ and very little panic in his game. Versatile player: They use him on both the first unit PP and PK in Owen Sound”.

NHL.com’s Mike Morreale put him at 22nd overall in January.

"Suzuki (5-11, 187) has 56 points (23 goals, 33 assists) and a plus-28 rating in 43 games, all improvements from the 20 goals, 38 points and minus-15 he had in 63 games last season as an OHL rookie. He’s versatile, has high-end hockey sense and vision and is a gifted passer and underrated finisher."

Calgary Flames /

Calgary Flames

Scouting Report

"A no quit, full of energy centreman who adapts to new situations well and shows versatility. Has impressive quickness in his feet and an enviable top speed. […] Has elite hockey IQ […] Possesses a surprisingly quick wrist shot that he uses to pick his targets. Impressive playmaking ability and touch on his passes. Great defensively and seems to constantly have the puck on his stick […] Pressures hard on the forecheck, consistently pressuring defensemen and keeping his feet moving leading to turnovers. Gets back in a hurry on the backcheck. Willingly gets himself into lanes and block opportunities […] He reads and adapts exceptionally well. Just a potentially strong two-way contributor at the next level. (Future Considerations)."

Where does he fit in with the Flames?

Nick Suzuki is a very strong two-way centerman and reminds me a lot of Mikael Backlund on the Calgary Flames right now. He has extreme potential to be a first or second line centerman. The only thing that is concerning is his weight, he’s roughly the same height as another draft option, Lias Andersson, at 5’11”, but he’s a good 15 pounds lighter. However, he is still only 17 years old and can easily build up muscle.

Something like his weight and height isn’t concerning to scouts however because of his strength with puck movement and his speed. He has high hockey IQ and that skill doesn’t matter if you’re ten pounds light, which again, can be built up.

I can easily see him on the Flames maybe in the future, but maybe not right now. Like I said, he’s a strong two-way centerman, but the Calgary Flames already have two strong centermen for their first and second lines. The Flames management is also confident in Sam Bennett to keep as that third line centerman if they can find him some solid wingers. Like I brought up yesterday, Bennett and Lias Andersson seem like a good duo.

But another option right now can be to put Bennett on that wing with Suzuki as a centerman. However, I don’t think Suzuki will be getting a lot of NHL time this season with whoever he gets drafted by. And if he’s brought up right away to be a third-line center, he won’t get as much ice-time as he could in Stockton to really develop his pro skills.

Also just for fun, let’s look at his highlights from this past season in the OHL.

Next: Why Trading for Ovechkin Makes Sense

This is a tough one between Andersson and Suzuki. I’m somewhat torn. If I had to choose right now, I’d still go with Andersson. But only because I think in a couple of years, Suzuki can be good enough for a top-six forward, but the Calgary Flames already have that area covered.

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