Stars And Sticks NHL Mid-Season Awards: Luongo, Predators Come Up Big
NHL Awards: Selke Trophy
Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
The Selke Trophy goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL. My pick for this award was probably the easiest of all my picks. Without question, the best defensive forward in the NHL is Patrice Bergeron. His offensive zone start percentage is 47.7%. He has more defensive zone starts than offensive zone starts. Despite this, Bergeron has an extremely impressive 58.7% CF%. Usually, when a player has a low offensive zone start percentage, a low CF% is a given. Bergeron is the exception to that rule.
Bergeron is also one of the best penalty killers in the NHL. He has the fourth highest CF% while on the penalty kill among forwards with at least 75 minutes of ice time while shorthanded. His 54.2% face-off win percentage on the penalty kill is also fourth in the NHL among those who qualify.
Bergeron’s job is to win face-offs, and he does that extremely well. He is second in the NHL in face off win percentage in all situations. There is no greater compliment I could pay to Bergeron than this: I’ll take him on my team and on the ice with a one goal lead over any forward in the NHL. Just rename this award the Bergeron.
My ballot:
- Bergeron
- Jonathan Toews. Sort of a reputation pick, but he does match up well with Bergeron.
- Ryan O’Reilly. He never gets enough love, so I’m going to give him some. One of the best defensive forwards in the NHL.
Next: Calder