NHL Awards: Selke Trophy Needs A Better Representation
The Selke Trophy is one of the most prestigious NHL Awards. But now it represents one thing: faceoff win percentages. Here’s why it shouldn’t.
During the NHL Awards, one of the big trophies presented is the Frank J. Selke trophy.
This trophy is a recognition of the best defensive forward in the NHL.
Except that award has now been distorted. It now recognizes the center best at face-offs.
At least that’s how it seems. Instead of recognizing the play of all forwards, it has become extremely center-heavy.
And that’s a real shame. It’s not the purpose of the award. And it’s lead to some greats being left out.
Patrice Bergeron Earned It
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This is not to say that Patrice Bergeron did not earn it. He did. It’s just not for his 3rd best in the NHL 60.1% face-off success rate.
It’s for his play outside of that. He was 24th in the league in terms of penalty kill minutes.
He led the league in Corsi with a 61.8 Corsi For in 5 on 5 situations.
Bergeron is a defensive beast, one who can play in all situations for the Boston Bruins.
From 5 on 5 to the penalty kill to the power play, he’s great.
And it’s why, even in a down year defensively, Bergeron still won. He’s won four now, and it’s for a reason.
But while Bergeron was deserving of his award, the same can’t be said for Mikko Koivu, another finalist.
And that’s because some great wingers were left out to put Koivu in. And while he had great face-off success and started in the defensive zone in the 5 on 5, there wasn’t much else.
The Case For Wingers
Some wingers have earned their spots in the finalist group.
Forwards who should be thought of but haven’t been include Marian Hossa, Brad Marchand, and Zach Hyman.
And it’s because they aren’t in the face-off dot.
Two of them are on the list, but lower than they perhaps should be. Marian Hossa was voted 14th, Marchand 12th.
Hyman was left off of the list altogether.
Mark Stone, by the way, was the highest winger on the list. His best defensive stat – 96 takeaways. Other than that: really not much.
These three all play valuable minutes on the penalty kill – Hyman had the most PK minutes out of all forwards in the NHL this season.
With Marian Hossa’s career perhaps now done, it’s time to take it as a lesson. If a forward who isn’t a center displays the ability to be better defensively than everybody, maybe give them their award.