Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki wins Selke Trophy, sniper Cole Caufield takes Lady Byng

Suzuki was officially unveiled as the Selke Trophy winner Friday, while Caufield took home the Lady Byng Trophy.

“It got both of us,” Suzuki said on a video conference call with reporters of the award ruse back on May 11 that was kept secret for 3 1/2 weeks. “We just thought we were both presenting. It was a great job by everyone to keep that on the down low.”

In a video released by the NHL and the team, Caufield appeared shocked when Suzuki presented him with the Lady Byng, which is handed out annually to the player voted to best combine sportsmanship with playing ability.

Suzuki, meanwhile, had an equally surprised look when Caufield did the same moments later with the Selke, which goes to the league’s top defensive forward.

“I was thinking about the whole time what I was going to say … pretty nervous as a public speaker,” Caufield said. “The way that went, it was pretty special.

“Really cool to share that with everybody who was in that room — your teammates, coaches, staff, because they all have a big part in why players have success.”

The first choice on 151 of the 198 ballots cast by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, Suzuki posted a career-high 101 points in 2025-26 for the Canadiens, who outscored their opponents 94-58 at even strength when he was on the ice.

Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli was a distant second in voting, followed by Colorado Avalanche counterpart Brock Nelson.

Montreal busted out of its rebuild this season with a trip to the Eastern Conference final after finishing last in the overall standings back in 2022.

“It doesn’t happen without him and his leadership every day,” Caufield said of Suzuki, the Canadiens No. 1 centre. “There’s so many things that he does that help the team as a whole. We really follow his lead. It’s very well-deserved, but I think the guys in the room will tell you maybe not expected, but it’s something that we all knew he has in him.”

Caufield had 51 goals, becoming the club’s first player to hit the half-century mark since 1990, and was assessed just seven minor penalties.

Recently retired Los Angeles Kings centre Anze Kopitar, a three-time Lady Byng winner, was second in voting, followed by Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson. 

“Special to give Cole his award and all the effort that he put in this season and what he’s done for our team,” Suzuki said. “The enthusiasm every morning that we all need on some tough mornings. It was cool to share that experience with him. We’ve been through a lot together.

“Just another thing that we get to share.”

Suzuki said both he and the Canadiens, who were the youngest roster to make the third round of the playoffs since Montreal in 1993 at 25.9 years of age, are just getting started

“There’s lots of things to still work on,” he said. “You want to be the team still playing and have a chance to win the (Stanley) Cup. There’s a lot more things that myself and my teammates can do to have even better seasons moving forward.

“Exciting for our group.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki wins Selke Trophy, sniper Cole Caufield takes Lady Byng

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