Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki wins Selke Trophy, Cole Caufield takes Lady Byng
It seems Canadiens forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield will be forever linked to the organization’s success as it continues to build toward what it hopes will be a Stanley Cup championship.
The two play on the Canadiens’ top line, along with Juraj Slafkovsky, and were hugely responsible for the team’s fortunes this season as Montreal reached the Eastern Conference final before losing in five games to Carolina.
Both players were first-round draft choices, albeit Suzuki by Vegas in 2017 — two years ahead of Caufield — before being traded to Montreal for Max Pacioretty. And now, the two can share one more common denominator after both were named NHL award winners on Friday.
Suzuki, the Canadiens’ captain, was named the recipient of the Selke Trophy, awarded to the league’s best defensive forward. Caufield captured the Lady Byng “for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of play.”
“As players, you never go into an organization thinking you can break records — especially with an organization like Montreal, the history that we have and the players that came before us,” Suzuki said during a video conference on Friday.
“It’s a new generation,” he added. “The fans haven’t had a team like this, with so much talent and promise. And young players that are taking the league by storm really early. It has been impressive watching all these young guys. Me and Cole are part of that group. We’re happy to do our part. It’s cool to be put up there with the guys that came before us. I’m looking forward to seeing more team success and individual success down the line.”
Suzuki, who led the Canadiens with 101 points, easily outdistanced Tampa Bay centre Anthony Cirelli, coming first on 151 of 198 ballots. He joins Canadiens greats Bob Gainey and Guy Carbonneau — both former team captains — as Selke winners. Gainey captured the award in each of the first four seasons it was presented, beginning in 1978, while Carbonneau was a three-time recipient.
Caufield, who led the Canadiens with 51 goals, becomes the third Montreal player, and first since Mats Naslund in 1988, to win the Lady Byng. Former Canadiens head coach Toe Blake first won it in 1946.
The two players surprised each other with the awards in the Canadiens’ dressing room during a team meeting on May 11, the day after Game 3 of the Atlantic Division final against Buffalo. The two had been sworn to secrecy until Friday’s announcement.
“We were the young guys six years ago,” said Suzuki, 26. “Now we’re some of the older guys on the team, trying to set the example and lead every single day. It’s cool to see where our team’s at from where it was four years ago. We’re an exciting, young team. 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. It was a hell of a playoff run. We just want to have many years of that, hopefully with a Cup at the end.”
Caufield is a natural scorer and became the Canadiens’ first player in 36 years, since Stéphane Richer, to hit the 50-goal plateau. Caufield finished second to Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon (53 goals) in the race for the Richard Trophy.
If being a sportsman and gentleman on the ice aren’t necessarily associated with Caufield, he quickly noted that “I just try to be a good guy.”
Caufield, who was sitting by a lake somewhere in Michigan, said it’s an exciting time to be associated with a team filled with hope and promise, one that produced 48 wins and 106 points in a competitive division.
“It kind of feels like (he and Suzuki) are on the older side of the team now,” said Caufield, 25. “That means the younger guys are pushing the group more. That’s what makes it most exciting — the talent that’s coming. It’s really exciting and fortunate to be where we are.
“It was a really special year and I’m happy to share it with (Suzuki),” he added. “I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today without him.”
Entering this season, Canadiens players and management were cautiously optimistic after the team’s first playoff appearance in four seasons — an opening-round five-game loss to Washington. And now they realize the bar has been set even higher.
“Every year, you kind of know where your team’s at,” Caufield said. “Every year, you get more experience. With where our group is, it’s now. We’re excited for that challenge. Hopefully, the special times haven’t happened yet.”
