For the ninth season in a row, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron was named a finalist for the Selke Trophy for best defensive forward, based on his NHL record. Bergeron joined Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier and St. Louis Blues center Ryan O’Reilly, who won the award last season. The Selke Trophy is voted by the Association of Professional Hockey Writers and is awarded to the striker who “demonstrates the greatest skill in the defensive component of the game.”
The Bruins center set an NHL record last season with his eighth consecutive Selke nod, the most consecutive nominations for any player in history. The four-time Selke winner is now looking for another record: With a fifth victory, Bergeron would surpass Bob Gainey for most of Selke’s trophies in league history.
As usual, Selke’s nominations went to competent players at both ends of the court. Bergeron had a winning percentage of 57.8 games, as well as 56 points in 61 games this season as the Bruins’ center of the top line. He had a better goal expected for 60 minutes (1.86) than any of the other nominees. Couturier won 59.7% of their meetings and had 59 points in 69 games for the Flyers. His line scored 76% of the goals while on the ice with 5-on-5. O’Reilly had 61 points in 71 games and won 56.6% of his meetings.
Among the players who failed to cut for the Selke despite the strong seasons: Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Valeri Nichushkin of the Colorado avalanche and Mark Stone of the Las Vegas Golden Knights.
The NHL also announced the finalists for the Norris Trophy as the best defender in the league, also voted by PHWA. Unsurprisingly, John Carlson of Washington Capitals and Roman Josi of Nashville Predators were nominated, as they were the leading candidates for the award throughout the season. They were joined by Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman, who won the award in 2018 and is the first Norris Trophy finalist in four consecutive seasons since Nicklas Lidstrom with the Detroit Red Wings.
Carlson had one of the best offensive seasons for a defender in decades, despite the NHL season being halted on March 12. He had 75 points in 69 games to lead all defenders, 10 more than Josi. Carlson’s 1.09 points per game is the highest for any defense since 1994.
Josi had 65 outstanding points in 69 games, playing 1:09 more per game on average than Carlson and skating a plus-22. Hedman had 55 points in 66 games. She was fourth among defenders in goals scored above average (18.1), better than Josi (12.4) or Carlson (7.6).
Among the defenders who didn’t make the cut, but were Norris Trophy contenders: Alex Pietrangelo of St. Louis Blues and Jaccob Slavin of Carolina Hurricanes.
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