Aleksander Barkov wins the Selke Trophy — is the Conn Smythe next?

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was announced as the winner of the Frank J. Selke Trophy for his outstanding defensive play during the 2024-25 season, and he is now working his way into the Conn Smythe conversation.

Barkov is just the sixth player in history to win the award at least three times, dating back to when the Selke was introduced in 1978. He joins an elite club alongside Patrice Bergeron, Pavel Datsyuk, Jere Lehtinen, Guy Carbonneau, and Bob Gainey.

Barkov played a major role in Florida's highly efficient regular season that saw the team rank fifth-best in shots allowed per game (26.2), and seventh-best in goals against per game (2.72).

On an individual level, Barkov continues to excel on both sides of the puck. Of all of his ice time, 48.0% of it was spent in the offensive zone which is in the 98th percentile for all NHLers. Florida was also responsible for 59.3% of all shot attempts from both teams combined when Barkov was on the ice at 5-on-5 -- that was the fourth-best among all skaters.

As the Panthers prepare to battle it out for a second straight Stanley Cup, Barkov continues to employ the same defensive style of play while also leading the team with 17 points in as many games. With his offensive output as well as his ability to shut down the opponent, discussions have begun as to whether Barkov could be this year's Conn Smythe winner if the Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers.

Could Barkov be named playoff MVP?

Oilers superstar Connor McDavid is undoubtedbly leading the pack in terms of potential MVP candidates during this playoffs. With 26 points in 16 games, it's hard to argue against him or even Sergei Bobrovksy, who's been backstopping Florida to victory with three shutouts.

But Barkov's impact goes far beyond the scoresheet, though he is still producing at a point-per-game pace with six goals and 11 helpers so far. Florida is outscoring opponents 29-17 when Barkov is skating, as well as a shot differential of +39.

The Panthers captain is the backbone of the team right now. He is incredibly reliable on both ends of the rink and is a key contributor in every game situation. A big reason why Florida's penalty kill leads the NHL at 87.9% is because Barkov is always in the right place at the right time to get those big clears.

Not only has he taken the most faceoffs of any player this postseason, but he has a 57.9% success rate which is fifth-best of the 50 skaters with at least 70 faceoffs under their belts. Plus, his 61.5% win rate in the defensive zone is crucial in allowing his team to gain possession and move the puck up the ice.

One of the moments that encapsulates Barkov's style of play best was the game-winning goal that eliminated the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. He came skating around the back wall with defenseman Dmitry Orlov challenging him hard. Barkov managed to shake the defender off with some quick footwork, charging towards the front of the crease and sending a perfect pass over to Carter Verhaeghe who then lit the lamp.

That ten-second play says everything you need to know about Barkov: he protects the puck solidly, skates extremely well, and has the vision to set up his teammates efficiently.

Barkov is up against some steep competition for the title of playoff MVP and, like most players, probably isn't very concerned with personal accolades right now. But if he continues to generate offense against the Oilers' top skaters, Barkov will surely be a frontrunner for the Conn Smythe.