Suzuki and Caufield Earn Selke and Lady Byng in Montreal's Breakout Year

Nick Suzuki won the Selke Trophy in a blowout while Cole Caufield became the first Montreal player in 36 years to score 50 goals, none on an empty net.

Dynamic Duo Delivers League-Wide Recognition

Suzuki posted 101 points, took the sixth-most faceoffs in the NHL and posted a plus-37 goal differential that ranked among the top 10 league-wide. Caufield finished with 51 goals, second-most in the league, and added 12 game-winners including five in overtime. These totals arrived in the same season Montreal eliminated Tampa Bay in round one and ended Buffalo’s run in round two before falling to Carolina.

The pair’s impact extended beyond the scoresheet. Suzuki earned a spot on Canada’s Olympic roster where coach Jon Cooper described him as a swiss army knife who can play anywhere. Caufield’s gentlemanly play earned the Lady Byng while maintaining elite production, a combination last seen from a Canadiens forward decades earlier.

Montreal coach Martin St-Louis noted the shared experience will stay with both players and emphasized that the trophies reflect team-wide contributions rather than solo achievements.

Supporting Cast Fuels the Ascent

Juraj Slafkovsky increased his goal total from 18 to 30 and established himself on the top line. Lane Hutson recorded 78 points, fourth among defensemen, and led all blueliners with 16 points in 19 playoff games. Rookie Ivan Demidov posted 19 goals and 62 points to finish runner-up for the Calder Trophy.

Goaltender Jakub Dobes secured the starter’s role with two Game 7 victories. The entire core remains exceptionally young: Demidov at 20, Hutson at 22, Dobes at 25, Caufield at 25 and Suzuki at 26 after seven NHL seasons.

Atlantic Division Outlook Shifts

Florida, Buffalo, Tampa Bay and potentially Ottawa and Toronto will challenge next season, yet Montreal’s combination of a No. 1 center, top-pair defenseman and elite goaltender gives the franchise a structural edge. The same duo that reached the 2021 Cup final has now added hardware that signals sustained contention.

Suzuki and Caufield will continue leading the Ole chants that define the fan experience for years ahead.