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NHL Awards: Predicting The 2014-2015 Winners

By Dave Stevenson

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2014-2015 NHL Awards: The Selke

Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Selke Trophy goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL. Will Patrice Bergeron win it once again? Or can Toews or Kopitar unseat him?

Jonathan Toews captained the Chicago Blackhawks all the way to their third Stanley Cup with Toews as their captain. He led the way as the Hawks allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. He also led the NHL in plus/minus with an impressive +30.

Anze Kopitar had an incredible +359 Corsi differential at even strength, the best in the NHL. Among those with at least 1000 minutes played at even strength, Kopitar had the second lowest Corsi Against/60 minutes at even strength (43.77). He also led the NHL among forwards with at least 1000 minutes at even strength with a CorsiFor% of 59.22%.

Patrice Bergeron had yet another stellar defensive year, even with the Bruins missing the playoffs. It sure wasn’t Bergeron’s fault. He had the fourth highest even strength CF% among NHL forwards with at least 1000 minutes at even strength (58.16%). He had the sixth fewest Corsi events against (825). He also had the sixth lowest CA60 at even strength (46.76).

With all due respect to Toews, he should not have been a nominee. I’m not saying that he’s not great defensively, I’m just saying that there were more deserving candidates. This is a two horse race between Kopitar and Bergeron. And darn it, it’s a really close one.

For me, the determining factor of how good someone is is seeing how their team does with said player on the ice and comparing it to how they do without said player on the ice. Bergeron had the second highest CF% relative (team CF% with player on the ice minus team CF% without player on the ice) in the NHL with a 8.99% mark. That’s not even close to Kopitar’s.

I really love Kopitar, but he is not yet ready to claim the throne that belongs to Mr. Bergeron. Someone’s going to have to pry it from Bergeron.

Our ballot:

  1. Bergeron. He’s just unfairly good.
  2. Kopitar. He’s about as close to Bergeron as it gets.
  3. Toews

Next: Jack Adams

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