What Does Jets' Organization have in CJ Suess?

WINNIPEG, Manitoba - A quick hockeydb search of CJ Suess may cause one to overlook the 25-year-old center's odds of becoming a Winnipeg Jet, but you shouldn't give up on Suess’ NHL aspirations just yet.

“He’s one of the most valuable players we have on our team,” Seth Griffith, the Moose’s leading scorer, told InsideAHLHockey.com during a 1-on-1 interview last month.

It may be puzzling to see that a player like Suess, with just 22 points in 48 games (0.46 p/pg) this season, is renowned as such a valued commodity but there’s merit to Griffith’s comments.

While his strong forechecking and defensive abilities are the bread and butter of his game, the Jets’ 2014 fifth round pick has been deployed heavily in all areas of the game—at even strength and both special teams units—in his sophomore season.

“He’s the type of player that it doesn't matter who you play him with, that lines going to have some success,” Vincent told reporters at the teams’ December 20th practice.

Suess’ responsible style of play impressed the Jets right out of the gate this season and he was actually one of the teams’ final training camp cuts. When the Jets needed a player in a pinch for their November 1st tilt against the San Jose Sharks, it was Suess who was called upon to suit up for what was his NHL debut.

While the emergence of Jansen Harkins may make it seem like there’s little room for Suess, the reality is that the Minnesota State-Mankato graduate’s celling is probably capped out at a fourth line player. He’s not going to be competing with the likes of Harkins for minutes. He’s going to be competing with the Nick Shore’s, the Logan Shaw’s and the Joona Luoto’s (as examples), to get himself a handful of minutes per game at the NHL-level.

Suess takes pride in playing a style of game that is sought out after for fourth lines in today's NHL.

“I’ve always pictured myself as a two-way player and playing out of the D-zone first and kind being a shutdown player in the defensive zone and creating my opportunities from there.” Suess explained in a conversation with InsideAHLHockey.com.

With seven points in his last nine games (and 15 in his last 22 contests (0.7 p/pg), it’s worth pointing out that Suess’ offensive game has also been evolving lately, too. The bulk of his goals this season have come in close proximity to the net and he’s carved out a net-front role on the team's top power play unit.

“That’s a skill,” Vincent explained. “First, you need some courage to go there. But to be able to find the rebounds, then to position yourself and to roll away from getting boxed out and having his stick in the right place—he’s really good at that.”

Will CJ Suess ever be a top-nine forward at the NHL level? Probably not.

Can he be of service to the Jets’ fourth line for years to come? Probably.

Just because players on the fourth line aren't the flashiest, it doesn't mean they are not important. You need players like Suess, that can play the type of responsible game he plays, for short spurts so the big guns can get their rest.

“If you have a bunch of skilled players, it’s really nice when you have the puck. But there’s a lot of time during the game when you don’t have the puck and you need those guys to get it back,” Vincent explained in a 1-on-1 chat with InsideAHLhockey.com on Monday afternoon.

And in a salary-cap league like the NHL, it’s infinitely cheaper to develop a player as opposed to going out and over paying one on July 1 - which is why players like Suess are critical to develop.