Montreal Canadiens Captain Nick Suzuki Positions Himself as Selke Trophy Frontrunner
The Montreal Canadiens have found their franchise cornerstone in captain Nick Suzuki, who has evolved into one of the National Hockey League's premier two-way forwards and now stands as a legitimate contender for the prestigious Frank J. Selke Trophy.
Statistical Dominance and Defensive Excellence
Suzuki's transformation into an elite defensive forward has been remarkable. Heading into Monday's game against the Minnesota Wild, the Canadiens captain led his team in scoring with 18 goals and 46 assists for 64 points, while also topping the team with an impressive plus-26 rating. Even more telling are his numbers over the last 82 regular-season games, where he has compiled 33 goals, 68 assists, and 101 points with a remarkable plus-40 differential.
These statistics place Suzuki among the NHL's elite centers, ranking sixth in scoring among centers and fourth in plus/minus league-wide. His overall scoring places him 11th in the entire NHL, marking the closest a Canadiens player has come to a top-10 finish since Mats Naslund accomplished the feat back in the 1985-86 season.
Growing Recognition and Voting History
While Suzuki finished 13th in Selke voting last season, he received notable recognition from select voters. Former Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban and journalist Stu Cowan both gave Suzuki third-place votes, while TSN analyst Craig Button provided a second-place vote. With two-time defending Selke winner Aleksander Barkov sidelined due to knee surgery this season, the award appears wide open for new contenders like Suzuki to make their case.
Last season's voting saw Cowan place Suzuki third behind Barkov and Anthony Cirelli, while Subban ranked him behind Nico Hischier and Sam Reinhart. Button's ballot featured Barkov first, Suzuki second, and Robert Thomas third. This growing recognition suggests Suzuki's defensive prowess is becoming increasingly apparent to hockey observers across the league.
The Complete 200-Foot Player
What makes Suzuki's game so special is his effortless efficiency at both ends of the ice. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis emphasized Suzuki's versatility, noting that "Nick can play all the way up and down an all-star lineup. He can play the PP, PK. He can play wing."
Defenceman Mike Matheson highlighted Suzuki's positional awareness, stating, "He's very good positionally. He just always seems in control and that's really impressive." This control allows Suzuki to average over 20 minutes of ice time per game while consistently matching up against opponents' top centers.
From Promising Rookie to Franchise Captain
Suzuki's development has been organic and steady since joining the Canadiens as a 20-year-old rookie during the 2019-20 season. Former teammate Nate Thompson, who played alongside Suzuki during that rookie campaign, recognized his potential immediately. "I knew right away then with Nick Suzuki that he was going to be a player," Thompson recalled.
Thompson, who played 15 NHL seasons with nine different teams, offered a compelling comparison: "He's kind of in between a David Krejci and a Patrice Bergeron. That's what I see when I see Nick Suzuki." High praise indeed, considering Bergeron's legendary status as a Selke Trophy winner.
At just 24 years old, Suzuki became the youngest captain in Canadiens franchise history, a responsibility he has embraced while continuing to develop his game. Coach St. Louis noted that the organization hasn't forced leadership expectations on Suzuki, instead encouraging him to "just go be yourself." This approach has yielded impressive results, with Suzuki improving his performance each season.
International Recognition and Big-Game Performance
Suzuki's excellence hasn't gone unnoticed on the international stage. Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong selected Suzuki for the Olympic team heading to the Milano Cortina Games in Italy, recognizing his complete two-way game and reliability in crucial situations.
Thompson emphasized Suzuki's performance in important games, noting, "And the bigger the game, the better Suzuki usually plays. And he almost does it with a smile on his face and you can see how much he's enjoying it and how much he loves the game and his passion for the game."
For Canadiens fans, having Suzuki as their captain represents stability and excellence for years to come. As Thompson put it, "If I'm a Montreal Canadiens fan and that's our captain I'm extremely happy for a long time." With his continued development and elite two-way play, Nick Suzuki has positioned himself not just as a Selke Trophy contender, but as the foundation of the Canadiens' future success.
