Canadiens’ Suzuki wins Selke, Caufield captures Lady Byng after breakthrough season
Posted June 5, 2026 11:22 am.
Last Updated June 5, 2026 5:53 pm.
The Montreal Canadiens’ season ended last week with a loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, but Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are still collecting accolades.
The NHL announced Friday that Suzuki won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward, while Caufield captured the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy after career-best seasons helped power Montreal’s deepest playoff run in years.
The trophies are voted on annually by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association following the regular season.
The two Canadiens stars learned of their victories in a surprise presentation organized by the league. Each believed he was presenting the other’s award before discovering he was a winner himself.
“It got both of us really well,” Suzuki said. “We never even thought that one of us could be winning it. We just thought we were both presenting.”
1314!!!! ???? https://t.co/U4crHzUKWW
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 5, 2026
Suzuki joins Canadiens legends
Suzuki became just the third player in Canadiens history to win the Selke Trophy, joining Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau.
The 26-year-old centre enjoyed the most productive season of his career, recording 29 goals and 72 assists for 101 points in 82 games. He led Montreal in scoring, plus-minus rating at plus-37 and power-play points with 43, while averaging 20 minutes 49 seconds of ice time per game — the most among Canadiens forwards.
Despite taking on the challenge of facing opponents’ top players nightly, Suzuki finished sixth in NHL in points and posted the third most productive season by a centre in franchise history.
He also won 50.4 per cent of his faceoffs, marking the third consecutive season he finished above the 50 per cent mark.
Notre capitaine Nick Suzuki a remporté son premier trophée Frank-J.-Selke! ????
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 5, 2026
Captain Nick Suzuki has won his first Frank J. Selke Trophy!#GoHabsGo | #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/jj7IR0G0nY
When asked how he can build on a season that included both 100 points and a Selke Trophy, Suzuki pointed to the team’s larger goals.
“I feel like there’s lots of things to still work on individually and as a team,” he said. “Ultimately, you want to be the team still playing and have a chance to win the Cup.”
Suzuki said his father helped shape the defensive mindset that became a foundation of his game.
“My dad really taught me that a long time ago,” he said. “Just trying to be a player that can be relied upon by the coaches, defensively and offensively. I think I really took that to heart as a kid. If you play well defensively, you’re going to have the puck more, which is always more fun to do.”
Caufield earns first major NHL award
Caufield’s season was defined by elite scoring and discipline.
The 25-year-old winger scored 51 goals and added 37 assists for 88 points in 81 games, becoming the first Canadiens player since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90 to reach the 50-goal mark.
His 51 goals ranked second in the NHL behind only Nathan MacKinnon.
At the same time, Caufield accumulated only 14 penalty minutes all season despite averaging more than 18 minutes of ice time per game. Among the league’s top 25 scorers, no player spent less time in the penalty box.
The award makes Caufield just the third Canadiens player to win the Lady Byng Trophy, joining Toe Blake and Mats Näslund.
“It’s obviously pretty special to be even considered for it,” Caufield said. “It was obviously cool because you get recognized, I guess, for both sides of play — teammate-wise and on-ice success. So it obviously means a lot.”
Cole Caufield est un gagnant du trophée Lady-Byng! ????
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 5, 2026
Cole Caufield is a Lady Byng Trophy winner!#GoHabsGo | #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/SEnQ8beo1O
Following the example of St. Louis and Gaudreau
The honour carries added significance for Caufield because of some of the names already engraved on the trophy.
Among previous winners are Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis, who captured the award three times, and the late Johnny Gaudreau, whom Caufield considered a close friend.
Before the season, Caufield changed his jersey number from 22 to 13 in honour of Gaudreau.
“Both of those guys have been obviously one being my coach and one being a good friend,” Caufield said. “It’s two people who, off the ice, are just as good as people, if not better than they are on the ice.
“They were two unbelievable players, but it just shows their character and how they carry themselves.”
Caufield added that being linked to both players through the award is especially meaningful.
“I think Johnny would be pretty proud of me right now,” he said. “And I’m sure he is.”
Recognition for a rising core
The awards also serve as recognition for a Canadiens team that has taken significant steps forward in recent seasons.
Led by Suzuki and Caufield, Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference Final after years of rebuilding, giving fans renewed optimism about the future.
“As players, you never really go into our organization thinking you can break records, especially with an organization like Montreal and the history that we have and the players that came before us,” Suzuki said.
“It’s a new generation that fans haven’t had, teams like this with so much talent and promise and young players that are taking the league by storm really early,” he added.
“It’s been impressive to watch all these young guys. Me and Cole are a core part of that group, and we’re happy to do our part. It’s really cool to be put up there with the guys that came before us. Looking forward to seeing more team success and individual success along the way.”
Both players said the success of the team remains the priority as a talented young core continues to develop.
“We were the young guys six years ago, and now we’re some of the older guys on the team trying to set the example and lead every single day,” Suzuki said.
“It’s cool to see where our team’s at from where it was four years ago. We’re an exciting young team, and me and Cole are super proud to be a part of the Canadiens. We just want to give our best and bring a championship back to the city that’s given us so much already. It was a hell of a playoff run and we just want to have many years of that, hopefully with the Cup at the end.”
Caufield believes the best may still be ahead.
“It’s exciting times in the city of Montreal,” he said. “With the group that we have and where we’ve come from, early on in our careers, you want more experience every year. Now it feels like we kind of are on the older side of the team, and that means all the young guys are pushing the group more.”
