Photo Credit: Le Journal de Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens’ resurgence received further validation Friday when captain Nick Suzuki and star winger Cole Caufield earned two of the NHL’s most respected individual awards.
Suzuki captured the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, while Caufield took home the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best combines sportsmanship with high-level performance. The awards capped a breakthrough season for a Canadiens team that advanced to the Eastern Conference Final and continued its rise from rebuilding club to legitimate contender.
Suzuki’s Complete Game Earns League-Wide Recognition
Suzuki emerged as one of the NHL’s most complete players during the 2025-26 season. The Canadiens captain recorded career highs with 29 goals, 72 assists, and 101 points while routinely matching up against opponents’ top offensive players.
His dominance in Selke voting reflected that impact. Suzuki received 151 first-place votes from members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, becoming just the third player in franchise history to win the award after Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau.
The honor represents the culmination of years of development. After finishing 13th in Selke voting in each of the previous two seasons, Suzuki elevated his game to another level while helping Montreal become one of the NHL’s biggest success stories.
Caufield Combines Elite Scoring With Remarkable Discipline
While Suzuki earned recognition for his two-way excellence, Caufield’s award highlighted a rare blend of offensive production and discipline.
The 25-year-old winger scored 51 goals and totaled 88 points while appearing in 81 games. Despite playing a major offensive role and averaging more than 18 minutes per contest, Caufield accumulated only 14 penalty minutes all season.
His combination of scoring touch and sportsmanship helped him edge out finalists Anze Kopitar and Jake Sanderson for the Lady Byng Trophy. Caufield became just the third Canadiens player to win the award, joining Mats Naslund and Toe Blake.
The 51-goal campaign also marked the first time a Montreal player reached the 50-goal milestone since 1990, further underscoring the significance of his season.
Surprise Presentation Created Memorable Moment
The award announcements were delivered in memorable fashion.
Both players were led to believe they were participating only to present an award to their teammate. Caufield thought he was helping reveal Suzuki’s Selke victory, while Suzuki believed he was there to present the Lady Byng Trophy to Caufield.
Instead, both players learned they were award winners themselves in front of teammates and staff, creating one of the Canadiens’ most memorable moments of the postseason.
The shared celebration reflected the close bond between two franchise cornerstones who have grown together during Montreal’s rebuilding process and now stand at the center of the team’s emergence as a contender.
With Suzuki establishing himself among the league’s elite centers and Caufield developing into one of hockey’s premier goal scorers, the Canadiens appear positioned to build on a season that delivered both team success and individual recognition.
