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NHL Awards: Selke Trophy Needs A Better Representation

By Shepard Price

Boston Bruins player Patrice Bergeron wins the Frank J. Selke Trophy during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena. (Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports)
Boston Bruins player Patrice Bergeron wins the Frank J. Selke Trophy during the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft at T-Mobile Arena. (Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports) /
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May 20, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) passes the puck defended by Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) during the second period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
May 20, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler (17) passes the puck defended by Nashville Predators center Calle Jarnkrok (19) during the second period in game five of the Western Conference Final of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

How To Determine Best Defensive Forward In the Future

Again look at Patrice Bergeron’s stats – 24th in the league in penalty kill. 1st in Corsi. That’s what should be looked at – what the numbers show.

Koivu was deployed in the defensive zone – but in 5-on-5. Easier, you would think, than the penalty kill.

Koivu was 55th in terms of penalty kill minutes. That’s behind Hyman, Marchand, Bergeron, Ryan Kesler, Anze Kopitar, Mikael Backlund, and Paul Byron.

Byron, by the way, is known for his speedy breakaways on offense. Not exactly a help on the penalty kill.

Look at the stats that matter. Penalty kill minutes are hugely important. It shows who the truly defensive players are. Kesler was 4th. Bergeron 24th. And there were more deserving wings.

It may sound crazy, but yes, I’m arguing that Brad Marchand should’ve been higher on this list. Maybe even a finalist. It’s not just a side-effect of Bergeron.

The Case For Wingers

Zach Hyman’s defensive stats for 2016-17: 223 Penalty Kill minutes played. Most in NHL. 4 short-handed goals. Tied for second in the NHL. 51.52 Corsi. Higher than Ryan Kesler.

Brad Marchand’s defensive stats for 2016-17: 60.30 Corsi. Second in NHL behind only Bergeron. 147 minutes of the penalty kill. 37th in NHL. 3 short-handed goals, tied for 5th.

NHL Awards
Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Dallas Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak (5) collide (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports) /

Both of these players deserved to be on the list, higher than Mikko Koivu.

Both were hugely important to their team’s abilities to kill off penalties and play defensively.

And while scoring again entered the video presentations for the Selke – Marchand was in the Rocket Richard goal scoring race.

He was up there in points and goals.

Zach Hyman is an up and coming defensive forward, perhaps he can be one of the best ever.

But no one will recognize it if the NHL Awards continue down the face-off path.

And the NHL Awards also pay more attention to hits. Which is nonsense? Are you really going to reward so-called “defensive” forwards for going for the body instead of the puck?

The Case For Hossa

Marian Hossa had a down year in terms of possession. While his scoring numbers went up, that’s not what he’s been known for – despite a .87 point-per-game career pace.

The impressive numbers from Hossa’s career: four seasons he had a Corsi above 58%. Every year of his career (that they tracked those stats) he had more takeaways than giveaways.

In his six best years in terms of possession – 2008-2014 – Hossa had the sixth best Corsi on the penalty kill. He had the 11th best PDO on the penalty kill. 6th most goals for, again, on the penalty kill.

And he was never given the award he earned, time and time again. He will go down as the Selke’s version of Brad Park.

Next: Marian Hossa Might Be Done And That's A Blow to the League

And that’s something no one should experience. It’s a lesson the NHL Awards should have learned with Park.

So please, NHL. Take this plea, this case. Don’t let other forwards go through this same pain. Reward Brad Marchand sooner rather than later.

Watch Zach Hyman – if he turns into another Marian Hossa, learn the lesson. Reward him too.

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