Nick Suzuki has established a dominant position in the Frank J. Selke Trophy market through elite two-way play as Montreal Canadiens captain during the 2025-26 regular season. He led all team forwards in ice time, shot attempt metrics, takeaways, and faceoff participation while posting career highs in points and appearing in every game for a fifth straight year. The Canadiens posted their strongest defensive numbers in years during his five-on-five minutes, which he won decisively. Fellow finalists Anthony Cirelli and Brock Nelson delivered strong defensive contributions for their clubs, yet Suzuki posted the highest defensive rating among the trio. Voter preference for a first-time winner or shifts in final ballots remain the primary variables that could still alter the outcome before the award is presented.