Suzuki's Selke Triumph
Canadiens Captain Nick Suzuki Dominates Selke Voting, Ending Franchise's Long Drought
Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki won the 2025-26 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward, with the Professional Hockey Writers Association awarding him a landslide of 151 first-place votes. Suzuki finished the season with career highs totaling 101 points on 29 goals and 72 assists, playing all 82 games while posting strong two-way metrics such as a plus-37 differential and a faceoff win rate above 50%. The Canadiens’ other trophy winner was teammate Cole Caufield, who took home the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and skill. The NHL and the writers’ group staged the presentations as a surprise, with both captains believing they were presenting the other’s award, turning the reveal into a shared moment in the locker room. Suzuki also noted he is joining Canadiens legends Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau among the franchise’s Selke winners.
Key Points
When Suzuki was on the ice, the Canadiens outscored opponents 94-58 at even strength during the 2025-26 season—one of the contextual indicators cited alongside his defensive-forward award.
Suzuki’s Selke win came with additional voting context beyond first-place totals: he received 151 of 198 first-place votes and 1,726 total voting points, finishing far ahead of Anthony Cirelli (467) and Brock Nelson (406).
The Canadiens’ Selke drought emphasized in one report: Suzuki was the first Montreal player to win the trophy since Guy Carbonneau in 1991-92—highlighting how unusual that level of two-way excellence is for the franchise.
Suzuki’s two-way production included power-play contributions and usage markers not mentioned in the summary: he recorded 43 power-play points and averaged 20 minutes, 49 seconds of ice time per game (more than any other Montreal forward).
Cole Caufield’s Lady Byng season featured discipline and scoring milestones: he became the Canadiens’ first 50-goal scorer in 36 years (51 goals) and was assessed just seven minor penalties.
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