All-Rookie Team: Nick Suzuki among Habs elite

MONTREAL - Often hailed for his elite playmaking ability and blue-chip potential, Nick Suzuki has joined some rather exclusive company in being named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team for the 2019-20 season.

Voted on by the Professional Hockey Writer's Association (PHWA) following the conclusion of the regular season, the All-Rookie Team is made up of six players - one goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards - receiving the most votes in each positional category. This past season's list was announced by the League on Monday evening.
On top of Suzuki, this year's squad also includes Calder Trophy winner Cale Makar (defenseman), nominees Quinn Hughes (defenseman) and Dominik Kubalik (forward), and Victor Olofsson (forward) and Elvis Merzlikins (goalie). The Habs centerman came in third in voting among forwards with 134 points.

Suzuki joins a long list of Canadiens players to have been named to the team since the first All-Rookie squad was announced back in 1982-83. The most recent Hab to make the cut was Brendan Gallagher in 2012-13. P.K. Subban (2010-11), Carey Price (2007-08), Michael Ryder (2003-04), Oleg Petrov (1993-94), Gilbert Dionne (1991-92), Kjell Dahlin and Patrick Roy (1985-86), Chris Chelios and Steve Penney (1984-85), and Mats Naslund (1982-83) round out the list of Canadiens rookies to have earned the honor. (Dan Daoust, also named to the 1982-83 team, played four games for the Habs during his rookie campaign but played the bulk of the season with the Maple Leafs.)

In addition to finishing sixth in rookie scoring with 41 points (13G, 28A), Suzuki led all first-year forwards in total time on ice (1,135:16) and even-strength time on ice (960:02) in 71 contests in 2019-20. He also ranked among the top five rookies in shots on goal (138 - 2nd), power-play goals (6 - 3rd), assists (28 - 4th), power-play points (14 - 4th), goals (13 - 5th) and power-play assists (8 - 5th).

A native of London, ON, Suzuki was the Golden Knights' first-round pick (13th overall) in 2017. He was acquired from Vegas alongside Tomas Tatar and a 2019 second-round pick in return for Max Pacioretty in September 2018.