Montreal Canadiens: Nick Suzuki Beats Jack Hughes for All-Rookie Team
Montreal Canadiens centre Nick Suzuki got some love in the Calder Trophy voting.
The Montreal Canadiens targeted Nick Suzuki when they were looking to trade their captain and leading goal scorer two years ago. Max Pacioretty was coming off a down season and gearing up for the final year of his contract when Habs management chose to go in a different direction.
Pacioretty was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights for Tomas Tatar, a second round pick and Suzuki who was the key to the whole trade. Tatar has turned things around and looked great for the Habs. That pick was moved for two other picks, and one become Mattias Norlinder who looks fantastic in SHL right now.
But Suzuki is still the key to that whole trade and we got another reminder of his potential late last night.
Just before the puck dropped on Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, the league announced its final award winners. Suzuki had a solid first year in a Canadiens sweater, scoring 13 goals and 41 points in 71 games. There was no guarantee he would make the opening night lineup but a strong training camp propelled him to a season where he got better as the year went along.
When the Calder Trophy winner was announced there was no surprise it was Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar. Quinn Hughes was the obvious runner up and a little further down the list was Suzuki.
The Habs pivot came in 9th in overall voting, but was also named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team as the top rookie centre in the league. Sneaking in to the top ten of a major award voting is no small feat.
Being named to the All-Rookie Team is quite the nod as well. Especially when you consider the competition. Not many people at the start of the season had Nick Suzuki being named to this team over first overall pick Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.
Hughes scored seven goals and 21 points this season after dominating at the United States Development Program. Hughes would have been a favorite to win the award at the start of the year. Suzuki cutting in front of him shows the true potential that the Habs young centre possesses.
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Suzuki continued to grow throughout the year and was at his best in the postseason. It will be fun to watch what Suzuki has in store for the 2020-21 season in a Canadiens sweater.