The NHL is announcing finalists for the annual NHL Awards this week, though they will not be handed out until late June between the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency. The finalists for the Hart Trophy will not be named until Friday, May 12, but the Frank J. Selke Trophy finalists have been announced already. This award goes to the league’s best defensive forward.
To no one’s surprise, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was one of the finalists. This marks the 12th consecutive season that Bergeron is a finalist for the Selke Trophy, as he will go down as perhaps the best defensive forward in hockey history. He has already won the award a record five times and is looking to add to that total with a sixth win. At age 37, Bergeron still remains one of the best penalty killing forwards and faceoff guys in the entire league.
Nico Hischier is also a finalist for the award, and this is his first time as a nominee. The New Jersey Devils center really broke through offensively this season with 31 goals and 80 points, but his defensive game is just as good, if not better, than what he does in the offensive zone. He wins over 53% of his draws, blocks shots, is the Devils top penalty killing forward and limits scoring chances against.
Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs is also up for the award. Known mostly for his offensive wizardry, the Leafs continue to lean on Marner in defensive situations as well and he has risen to the occasion. Though it is rare for a winger to win the award, the Maple Leafs always limit chances against when Marner is on the ice, and he is among the best forwards in the league at taking the puck away from opponents while he has also become one of the most used penalty killers among forwards in the league.
Hischier
Just look up all the defensive categories and when you see the same name at the top of each list, you have your winner.
Bergeron
Just look up all the defensive categories and you will see 1 name on top of just about every one, and some the 2nd place guy isn’t even close .
Bergeron
Can’t say any Leaf is a good defensive play……The team has no clue how to get the puck out of their own end.
Can’t say any Leaf is a good defensive play……The team has no clue how to get the puck out of their own end. Coaching error
Kopitar should be a finalist!
I was surprised he wasn’t. I thought he was a lock to be a finalist
Careful there, your multiple accounts are showing.
Kopitar and Jordan Staal seemed to get overlooked quite a bit for this award
… errr? Kopitar’s WON it twice and been a finalist in one other year.