Nick Suzuki isn’t just growing into his role as captain of the Montreal Canadiens - he’s redefining what it means to be a true 200-foot center in today’s NHL. And if he keeps playing the way he has been, it’s only a matter of time before the Selke Trophy voters take serious notice.
Last season, Suzuki finished 13th in voting for the Selke - the award given annually to the NHL’s top defensive forward. While he didn’t receive any first-place votes, he did earn a handful of nods: one second-place vote and two third-place votes. But based on his play this season, that number could be climbing - fast.
Heading into Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild, Suzuki led the Canadiens in scoring with 18 goals and 46 assists for 64 points. He also carried a team-best plus/minus rating of +26.
Stretch that performance over his last 82 regular-season games - essentially a full season’s worth - and you get 33 goals, 68 assists, 101 points, and a +40 rating. That’s not just solid - that’s elite.
And it’s not just about the numbers. What sets Suzuki apart is the way he plays the game - smooth, efficient, and always a step ahead.
There’s no wasted motion in his game. He’s positionally sound, makes smart reads, and rarely finds himself chasing the play.
That’s a big reason why he logs over 20 minutes a night and is consistently matched up against the opposition’s top center.
“He’s very good positionally,” said Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson. “He just always seems in control and that’s really impressive.”
That control and composure haven’t gone unnoticed. Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong named Suzuki to the Olympic roster for the upcoming Milano Cortina Games in Italy. It’s a testament to how much Suzuki’s all-around game has grown - and how much trust he’s earned on the international stage.
“There’s not much that Nick can’t do,” said Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis.
“Nick can play all the way up and down an all-star lineup. He can play the PP, PK.
He can play wing.”
That versatility has been a hallmark of Suzuki’s game since he entered the league as a 20-year-old rookie during the 2019-20 season. Back then, he started out on the wing, skating alongside veteran center Nate Thompson. Fast forward three years, and he’s wearing the “C” as the youngest captain in Canadiens history - a role he’s embraced with poise beyond his years.
If you’re looking to teach a young player how to play a complete, two-way game, you could do a lot worse than pointing to No. 14 in red, white, and blue. Watch him in the faceoff circle, on the backcheck, on the power play, or killing penalties - Suzuki does it all, and he does it with purpose.
With Aleksander Barkov - last year’s Selke winner - sidelined this season after knee surgery, the door is wide open for a new name to take the crown. And if Suzuki continues to play at this level, don’t be surprised if his name isn’t just on more ballots - but at the very top of them.