Nick Suzuki has become a top-notch center for the Habs, despite a less than stellar second half of the season. He is currently the team's leader in points this season, but also in terms of on-ice usefulness. It should be noted that numerous injuries, including one to his trio partner Cole Caufield, have hampered his production in recent weeks. However, his performance improved with the return of Kirby Dach, as he collected four points in two games. In relation to the latter, while Dach is currently considered the team's second center, things could change in the near future as former NHL head coach Bob Hartley made a statement about the 22-year-old forward. In his most recent appearance on BPM Sports, Hartley said he wouldn't be surprised if Dach surpassed Suzuki in the organization's center ranks in the near future. <q>I love him, Nick Suzuki. But I'm telling you, Kirby Dach's potential and what I see from him right now, depending on his curve, give me a year and a half, two years, there's a chance Dach is ahead of Suzuki. Then that would be a happy problem. - Bob Hartley</q> Wow, #77 really fell in Hartley's eye! I have to say that Dach's level of play, even after missing several weeks of activity, is truly incredible. He's got some serious upside to eventually make a huge impact in the Habs offense. Will he become the club's first center? It's a real possibility, especially since he's two years younger than Suzuki. However, we shouldn't get too hung up on such labels. If the Tricolore is finally fortunate enough to have two impact center players for their top-6, whether it's one or the other as the number one center, the organization is going to be in <i>business</i>. However, it is a testament to the quality of the organization's young centers, which is encouraging for the rebuild underway under Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/BPMSportsRadio/status/1639265853962084354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1639265853962084354%7Ctwgr%5Ec602b0dd791e49ed7dcd7b32aae7aed9a25acfa0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.habsetlnh.com%2FDeclaration-majeure-le-Canadien-aura-bientot-un-nouveau-joueur-de-centre-numero-un-220802'> </a></blockquote></div> Credit: <a href='https://www.habsetlnh.com/equipe-lnh/canadiens-de-montreal/Declaration-majeure-le-Canadien-aura-bientot-un-nouveau-joueur-de-centre-numero-un' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>HabsetLNH.com</a>