Analyst Reveals the One Reason Nick Suzuki Could Miss Out on the Selke Trophy
Since the beginning of the season, Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens has often been mentioned as a serious candidate for the Selke Trophy, but one analysis gives reason to pause before drawing conclusions.
We know Suzuki stands out for his intelligence on the ice.
He reads the play well, recovers key pucks, and rarely makes mistakes.
Many fans are convinced he deserves a spot among the finalists. I completely agree.
But a well-known analyst raised a point that slightly changes the discussion.
Dom Luszczyszyn explains why Nick Suzuki could genuinely aim for the Selke Trophy this season
In an analysis by Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic, it's mentioned that Suzuki is doing almost everything to be considered for the Selke.
"After the first month of the season, Nick Suzuki feels like the obvious Selke front-runner...But there's a catch to Suzuki's Selke bid: He's averaging just 19 seconds of penalty-kill time this season."
- Dom Luszczyszyn, via Habs On Reddit
- Dom Luszczyszyn, via Habs On Reddit
He's strong in his positioning, cuts off passing lanes, and wins his five-on-five battles.
In short, he plays like a responsible center.
However, there's one detail
Suzuki has played very little on the penalty kill this season.
We're talking about an average of only a few seconds per game.
But players who win the Selke are almost always used as key pieces on the PK.
That doesn't mean Suzuki isn't good in his own zone.
Quite the opposite.
I think his game is so clean, consistent, and reliable.
But in the minds of those who vote, time spent on the penalty kill carries a lot of weight.
In my opinion, Suzuki has everything it takes to win that trophy one day. It's not a question of talent - only a question of role.
If Martin St-Louis gives him more responsibility on the penalty kill, things could change quickly.
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