Nick Suzuki Leads Early Selke Race for Canadiens

An ESPN poll points to his two-way impact, with voters watching his penalty-kill role.

Overview

Through 26 games, Suzuki has 31 points (eight goals, 23 assists) to lead Montreal in scoring.
Natural Stat Trick data shows Montreal’s 5-on-5 shot share rises from 47.1% to 52.3% with Suzuki on the ice, with goal share jumping to 63% when he starts shifts and expected goals at 53.9%.
ESPN’s early poll lists Suzuki narrowly in front in the Selke race, reflecting both production and defensive impact.
Three-time winner Aleksander Barkov’s season-ending knee injury has opened the field and shifted voter attention to other top two-way centers.
Voters highlight continued penalty-kill usage as important for Suzuki’s case, while coverage notes his heavy all-situations workload could influence how coaches deploy him the rest of the season.