When the Montreal Canadiens committed to a full-scale rebuild several years ago, one of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle was finding the right leader to steer the ship through the choppy waters of modern roster reconstruction. Many teams have tried to tear it all down, but few have the patience—or the right captain—to see it through.

That's why September 12, 2022, might just be one of the most significant dates in Canadiens history. No, they didn't win their 25th Stanley Cup or sweep a playoff rival. Instead, general manager Kent Hughes named Nick Suzuki the team's captain—making him the youngest player ever to wear the 'C' in Montreal. It was a quiet move with loud implications.

Fast forward to today, and that decision is paying off in a big way. The NHL announced Wednesday that Suzuki is a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the forward who demonstrates the most defensive excellence. He's up against Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Brock Nelson of the Colorado Avalanche, guaranteeing a first-time winner.

For years, the Selke was dominated by legends like Patrice Bergeron (who won it six times) and Sasha Barkov (three wins). But with Bergeron retired and Barkov missing the entire 2025-26 season, the door has swung wide open for a new king of two-way hockey.

Suzuki enters as the favorite—and not just because he cracked the 100-point mark for the first time in his career. He finished the season with 29 goals and 72 assists in 82 games, marking his fifth consecutive year of improved production. That steady, year-over-year growth has become his trademark.

But what really sets Suzuki apart is his complete game. While his scoring has climbed, so has his defensive awareness. He's become the anchor of one of the NHL's most dominant lines in 2025-26, blending offensive flair with shutdown responsibility. For a player who took on the captaincy at such a young age, his evolution into a Selke-caliber force is a testament to his consistency—and his leadership.