Canadiens’ Nick Suzuki Underrated in NHL Network Center Rankings

Nick Suzuki’s Elite Production and Selke Trophy Win

Suzuki established new career highs during the 2025-26 season with 101 points and 72 assists across 82 games. He added 29 goals, a plus-37 rating, and 43 power-play points, which ranked second in the NHL. Beyond his offensive output, Suzuki earned 151 first-place votes out of 198 ballots to finish with 1,726 voting points for the Selke Trophy, outpacing runner-up Anthony Cirelli’s 467 points. Montreal out-scored opponents 94-58 in even-strength goals with Suzuki on the ice while he averaged 20:49 of ice time per game and won 50.4% of his 1,449 faceoffs. Furthermore, Suzuki extended his durability streak by maintaining his record of not missing a single game across his seven NHL seasons.

Comparing Suzuki’s Ranking to Auston Matthews

The placement of Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews at No. 8 on the NHL Network list has sparked debate regarding where Suzuki should have landed. Matthews finished eighth despite playing only 60 games and recording career lows of 27 goals and 53 points during the 2025-26 season. By contrast, Suzuki nearly doubled Matthews’ point total while playing 22 more games and securing a major individual award. Team success also separated the two captains last season, as Suzuki led the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final with 16 points in 19 playoff games, while the Maple Leafs missed the postseason for the first time since the 2015-16 campaign. Matthews carries a $13.25 million annual cap hit through the 2027-28 season on a four-year, $53 million contract signed in 2023.

Where Suzuki Landed Among Other NHL Centers

Suzuki’s performance pushed him ahead of several prominent names on the NHL Network top 20 list. The Montreal captain outranked Jack Hughes, Mark Scheifele, Sebastian Aho, and Connor Bedard. Suzuki’s postseason surge included four goals and 12 assists during Montreal’s run to the Eastern Conference Final in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.