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Suter is that Swiss Army knife with a multitude of favourable functions as a centre and winger who can play both sides. And he’s also a financial fit.
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Published Jun 04, 2024 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 4 minute read
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Predators left wing Filip Forsberg and Canucks centre Pius Suter get into a scuffle during the first period in Game 6 of the first round on May 3. Photo by George Walker IV /AP
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Rick Tocchet has a fondness for hybrid forwards and Patrik Allvin favours a financial fit.
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It’s why the Vancouver Canucks head coach and the general manager have a key piece in versatile Pius Suter to assemble their NHL roster for next season from competitive and cost-conscious considerations.
Suter, 28, is that Swiss Army knife with a multitude of favourable functions as a centre and winger who can play both sides. He was a fit on the left side with J.T. Miller by showing subtle smarts and making the right little plays.
He also developed early chemistry as the middle man between Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland, and with a year left on his deal at $1.6 million US, he’s a bonus in a bottom-line business.
With Allvin’s pursuit of a top-six winger an offseason priority — restricted free agent Martin Necas, 25, of the Carolina Hurricanes has arbitration rights and is in the crosshairs of several suitors — and unrestricted free agent Elias Lindholm expected to cash in July 1 with Boston Bruins at front of the we-need-you line — there could be two roster riddles.
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However, the one in the middle won’t be a third-line concern. Suter can solve it.
Suter is known for game awareness to provide a sense of calm, but he also had four goals in a five-game span in November before a groin injury. He missed 14 games and finished with 29 points (14-15) in 67 games. His true value was a high I.Q.
Canucks winger Pius Suter celebrates after scoring against the Blackhawks during 2-0 win on Jan. 22 at Rogers Arena. Photo by Derek Cain /Getty Images
In Suter’s first NHL postseason, he was a plus player, managed three points (2-1) in 14:22 of average ice time — including the late-game winner in a 1-0 decision at Nashville on May 3 to clinch the first-round series — and was better for the experience in his fourth season.
“The atmosphere was unbelievable and every game was a joy to play in,” said Suter. “Playoffs are playoffs, and playing at home (Switzerland) it was the same mindset. You have to play the same way, but just better players here.
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“For me, it’s always what’s needed and where the coaches think I fit best. And that doesn’t bother me. Side to side or centre, it’s a positive thing.”
To get a read on Suter, dial it back to the season opener. In an 8-1 drubbing of the Edmonton Oilers, the take-away for Tocchet was what Suter did without the puck in what turned into points night. Details could have easily slipped and checks could have been let go.
Not Suter. No way.
“I don’t want to say a lot of guys left the (defensive) area, but he stayed there, and if he didn’t, they score a tap-in,” Tocchet recalled. “He then comes to the bench and everybody sees it, the young guys and the older guys.
“That’s one of the reasons we acquired him. I don’t think you can have enough of those guys.”
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If the Canucks re-sign gritty UFA centre Teddy Blueger, 29, who excelled in matchups and in a first penalty-kill pairing, they should be set down the middle. His expiring one-year deal carried a $1.9-million cap hit. There is also Nils Aman, 24, who has two years left on a two-way contract that has an $825,000 hit.
Suter went undrafted, and being undeterred has helped carve out an NHL career.
He could have stayed home. He could have continued a comfortable career with Zurich HC of the National League, where he crossed paths with demanding former Canucks coach Marc Crawford and a 17-year-old whiz kid in Auston Matthews.
That was never the plan. It was to get to North America, prove scouts wrong and sign a contract. He got a one-year, show-us, free-agent deal from the Chicago Blackhawks. He responded with a hat-trick in his third game and moved up to play with Alex DeBrincat.
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It led to a two-year, free-agent deal with the Red Wings, but no qualifying offer, and that’s when the Canucks came calling. However, his ascension has been far from seamless.
He attended camps with the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders and wasn’t offered contracts, but wanted to get a taste of the NHL. When he left Switzerland, it would be to sign. In the interim, he got some tough love.
“It was hard, but it was good,” recalled Suter. “My first year in Zurich with Matthews we would just do extra stuff. But (Crawford) was really demanding. You didn’t want to mess up stuff because he would let you know.
“But that was actually great, because I got a lot of ice time and played with great players. I had six coaches in five years there, but it was playing with guys who had played in the NHL. Ryan Shannon (ex-Canuck) was my linemate, so you learn a lot.
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“With Matthews, I was 19 and had no clue who he was. But that shot. He just worked on it, and at 17 he was really strong and just dominated.(46 points, 24-22, in 36 games).”
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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Courtesy : https://theprovince.com/sports/hockey/nhl/vancouver-canucks/canucks-versatile-pius-suter-is-perfect-piece-to-help-solve-the-roster-puzzle