Montreal Canadiens forward linemates captain Nick Suzuki and winger Cole Caufield have both won trophies for their cabinets. Centreman Suzuki took home the Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward, and Caufield won the Lady Byng for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing. First Habs Lady Byng since the late ’80s The NHL decided to surprise the young sniper with the news. The duo were called to the locker room after the 6-2 Eastern Conference second-round win over the Buffalo Sabres on May 10. Suzuki then gave the 25-year-old, 51-goal scorer the award. “I kind of got tricked into not knowing what was going on today,” Caufield said. “It’s an individual award that comes with all the team aspects of things, and all your great teammates and coaches and everything that comes along with it.” Caufield ended the season with 88 points and just 14 penalty minutes (all two-minute minors), the fewest among the league’s top 25 scorers. He is the first Canadien to win the award since Mats Naslund in 1987-88. The only other Hab to win the award was Toe Blake in 1945-46. Caufield beat out retiring LA Kings captain (and three-time Lady Byng winner) Anze Kopitar and Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson. “I didn’t expect this,” Caufield said. “This doesn’t happen without you guys, everybody in this room.” First Selke since ‘92 As for the Habs captain, the 26-year-old from London, Ont., has not missed a game in his seven years in the NHL and led the team with 101 points (29 goals, 72 assists), the most power play points (43) and a solid +37 over the 82-game regular season. After Caufield got his trophy, he then presented his captain with the Selke. “I thought I was coming in this morning just to our meeting and present Cole with the Lady Byng,” Suzuki said. “I didn’t expect that at all, after. You guys definitely tricked both of us. Pretty surreal right now; really honoured to be selected for the award.” Suzuki beat out centres Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Colorado Avalanche’s Brock Nelson. The last Hab to win the Selke was Guy Carbonneau in 1991-92, who won it two other times in 1987-88 and 1988-89. Canadiens legend Bob Gainey was the first to win the trophy in 1977-78. He would go on to win it again three more times. Suzuki won 50.4 per cent of the 1,449 face-offs he took and averaged 20:49 minutes on the ice. “He’s been special for us not only this year but in years past with the work that he puts in, the detail,” Caufield said. “Not only on the offensive side, but the defensive side. Nobody’s more deserving of this award than Nick.” Suzuki joined the Habs after Montreal traded Max Pacioretty to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018. He was the youngest player to be named Canadiens captain in 2022. Caufield was the 15th overall pick in the 2019 draft. “Two great people, unbelievable hockey players that get recognized what kind of impact they have in the league, so it’s special,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. ”Suzi’s a little bit older, but he’s been a great role model for Cole and took him under his wing. They shared so many things, but I think to share this experience, this day, I think it’s something they’ll remember." “Our focus here has been so much about the team that I don’t think Cole and Suzi would want it any other way. As much as they are the recipient, they know that it’s also probably a team award because it takes more than one guy to go get these trophies.”
