Nick Suzuki Ranked Above Auston Matthews in New NHL Center Rankings

The 2025-26 season proved to be a defining chapter in the career of Nick Suzuki. Montreal's captain reached milestones that only a select few players ever achieve, and the hockey world is finally starting to give him the credit he deserves. A recently released ranking from The Hockey News has now put an official stamp on what many fans in Montreal have believed for some time.

A Breakthrough Season That Demanded Attention

Suzuki posted 29 goals and 101 points during the 2025-26 campaign, crossing the coveted 100-point threshold and firmly establishing himself among the NHL's elite playmakers. On top of that offensive explosion, he took home the Selke Trophy as the league's best defensive forward, a recognition that speaks volumes about his two-way game and his commitment to every aspect of hockey.

The 14th jersey in Montreal carried enormous weight this past season. Suzuki served as the anchor of the top line for what was the second-youngest roster in the entire NHL. Despite the team's youth, his leadership helped guide the Canadiens all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, a remarkable achievement for a franchise still in its rebuilding phase.

When The Hockey News compiled its list of the top three centers in the Atlantic Division, Suzuki landed at number two. The only player ranked above him was Florida Panthers star Aleksander Barkov. While the Finnish center has never reached the 100-point mark in a single season, his resume featuring two Stanley Cup championships and three Selke Trophies gives him an edge that is hard to argue against.

Auston Matthews Falls to Third

Perhaps the most striking takeaway from the ranking is the placement of Auston Matthews. The Toronto Maple Leafs captain, long considered one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the sport, was slotted behind Suzuki at third in the division. His last two seasons have fallen well short of the standards he set earlier in his career, and that decline carried significant weight in the evaluation.

At his peak, Matthews likely still surpasses Suzuki in terms of pure offensive firepower. However, it has been quite some time since the Leafs star performed at the level he displayed in 2023-24, when he lit the lamp 69 times and finished third in Selke Trophy voting.

For Suzuki, this ranking represents something larger than a spot on a list. It signals a shift in perception across the league. He is no longer viewed simply as a promising player on a rebuilding team but rather as one of the premier centers in all of professional hockey. With the Canadiens' young core continuing to develop around him, the trajectory suggests even bigger things could be on the horizon for Montreal's captain.