Past 10 winners of the Selke Trophy:
2000-01: John Madden - New Jersey Devils
2001-02: Michael Peca - New York Islanders
2002-03: Jere Lehtinen - Dallas Stars
2003-04: Kris Draper - Detroit Red Wings
2005-06: Rod Brind'Amour - Carolina Hurricanes
2006-07: Rod Brind'Amour - Carolina Hurricanes
2007-08: Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings
2008-09: Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings
2009-10: Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings
2010-11: Ryan Kesler - Vancouver Canucks
The three nominees for this years Selke Trophy are:
Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings
David Backes - St. Louis Blues
Patrice Bergeron - Boston Bruins
Pavel Datsyuk will have a chance to win a record-tying 4th Selke Trophy this year. He was third in the league with 97 takeaways. He finished the season as +21 and he won 56.2 percent of his faceoffs.
David Backes took a team high 1,353 faceoffs this year, winning 48.6 percent of them. He had 226 hits and 72 block shots.
Patrice Bergeron finished the season as a +36 which was the highest in the league. He had the second best faceoff winning percentage in the league at 59.2 percent and he was a key piece to the Bruins penalty killing.
League It To Us Predictions:
Josh's Prediction:
Patrice Bergeron should win the Selke Trophy. He is essential to the success of the Boston Bruins as the 26 year old center excels in many parts of the game. Bergeron was among league leaders in several defensive categories which makes him a standout nominee for the Trophy. He led the league with 973 faceoff wins and was second in the league in faceoff winning percentage. He took 34.4 percent of the Bruins faceoffs. Beregeron plays a huge role on the Bruins penalty kill as he is out on the ice to kill almost every penalty. His great defensive instincts allow him to be a great penalty killer and along with his ability to counter attack while shorthanded if given the chance, allowed him to tally three shorthanded points this season. He added 55 takeaways, 67 blocked shots and 73 hits. Along with the great defensive stats, Bergeron tallied 22 goals and added 42 points. Patrice Bergeron defines the definition of this trophy, and he deserves to win it. In my opinion, he was the best defensive forward in the NHL this season.
Scott's Prediction
When I first looked at the names on this list, Bergeron was my first choice. As the Northeast division writer here, I've been following his play all season. He's been extremely crucial for the Bruins, especially in the faceoff dot. Then, seeing Datsyuk's name, made me think maybe he should win. He is always in contention for the Selke and he's a big player on the Red Wings. Then I started digging through the stats, and my choice for the Selke winner is David Backes. He had the most blocks of the nominees with 72, and that placed 12th overall among forwards. He also had 226 hits, more than Datsyuk and Bergeron combined, and again 12th among forwards. He averaged 1:47 per game on the penalty kill, just one second less than Bergeron, and he potted two shorthanded goals this season. He was a +15, had 50 takeaways, and just 22 giveaways. With a 48.6% efficiency on faceoffs, he wasn't exactly among the league leaders, but he had 52% winning percentage on faceoffs that occurred in the defensive zone. Not only did he do all that, but he's the captain of the Blues who nearly won the President's Trophy. He set a good example for his team that was one of the best defensive teams in the league. Backes was an extremely well-rounded player for the Blues this season, and deserved to win the Selke.
Jake's Prediction
Patrice Bergeron. Datsyuk's reign may be over. Bergeron is exceptional in the faceoff circle and his league leading plus/minus show his defense capabilities. Just watching the Boston-Washington series you can see how much Boston relies on Bergeron's faceoff abilities. When an injury kept the centerman from taking faceoffs in Game 6, all of the sudden Washington was outshooting and outplaying Boston. The difference was obvious.
Greg's Prediction
This has to be the 1st year for me that I can't pick Datsyuk, though he did have a great Selke run once again. Both Backes and Bergeron are close, but I have to give it to B....ackes. Backes has been an all around guy that the Blues could rely on this year. On a team that has plenty of young offensive guys, a guy that has the defense like Backes is a huge help. Young players tend to get caught in the play, a guy like Backes can not only help with that while they make those mistakes but can teach the young players what to do just by example. Bergeron ha been great, but Boston is a team built off depth, so I feel that the loss of Backes would effect the Blues far more than the loss of Bergeron would to the Bruins.
Dylan's Prediction
My prediction for this season's Selke Trophy is that it will be awarded to David Backes of the St.Louis Blues. With two shorthanded goals as well as a +/- of 15, Backes was crucial to the Blues success this season. His play this season embodied the very structure that St.louis bases its play on. As the Captain, Backes reflected the importance of the defensive components of the game. St.Louis relies on strong defensive zone play as well as chemistry and goaltending. Backes is not only a central part of the Blues strategy, but is a representation of the defensive aspects of the game of hockey.
Our Selke Trophy Winner:
With 3 out of 5 hockey experts' votes, David Backes has been selected by League It To Us to win the Selke Trophy. Patrice Bergeron had the other two votes as Pavel Datsyuk surprisingly received no votes! David Backes deserves the award for his great penalty killing, success in at the faceoff cirle and his great all around play with the large amount of hits and blocks.
When I first looked at the names on this list, Bergeron was my first choice. As the Northeast division writer here, I've been following his play all season. He's been extremely crucial for the Bruins, especially in the faceoff dot. Then, seeing Datsyuk's name, made me think maybe he should win. He is always in contention for the Selke and he's a big player on the Red Wings. Then I started digging through the stats, and my choice for the Selke winner is David Backes. He had the most blocks of the nominees with 72, and that placed 12th overall among forwards. He also had 226 hits, more than Datsyuk and Bergeron combined, and again 12th among forwards. He averaged 1:47 per game on the penalty kill, just one second less than Bergeron, and he potted two shorthanded goals this season. He was a +15, had 50 takeaways, and just 22 giveaways. With a 48.6% efficiency on faceoffs, he wasn't exactly among the league leaders, but he had 52% winning percentage on faceoffs that occurred in the defensive zone. Not only did he do all that, but he's the captain of the Blues who nearly won the President's Trophy. He set a good example for his team that was one of the best defensive teams in the league. Backes was an extremely well-rounded player for the Blues this season, and deserved to win the Selke.
Jake's Prediction
Patrice Bergeron. Datsyuk's reign may be over. Bergeron is exceptional in the faceoff circle and his league leading plus/minus show his defense capabilities. Just watching the Boston-Washington series you can see how much Boston relies on Bergeron's faceoff abilities. When an injury kept the centerman from taking faceoffs in Game 6, all of the sudden Washington was outshooting and outplaying Boston. The difference was obvious.
Greg's Prediction
This has to be the 1st year for me that I can't pick Datsyuk, though he did have a great Selke run once again. Both Backes and Bergeron are close, but I have to give it to B....ackes. Backes has been an all around guy that the Blues could rely on this year. On a team that has plenty of young offensive guys, a guy that has the defense like Backes is a huge help. Young players tend to get caught in the play, a guy like Backes can not only help with that while they make those mistakes but can teach the young players what to do just by example. Bergeron ha been great, but Boston is a team built off depth, so I feel that the loss of Backes would effect the Blues far more than the loss of Bergeron would to the Bruins.
Dylan's Prediction
My prediction for this season's Selke Trophy is that it will be awarded to David Backes of the St.Louis Blues. With two shorthanded goals as well as a +/- of 15, Backes was crucial to the Blues success this season. His play this season embodied the very structure that St.louis bases its play on. As the Captain, Backes reflected the importance of the defensive components of the game. St.Louis relies on strong defensive zone play as well as chemistry and goaltending. Backes is not only a central part of the Blues strategy, but is a representation of the defensive aspects of the game of hockey.
Our Selke Trophy Winner:
With 3 out of 5 hockey experts' votes, David Backes has been selected by League It To Us to win the Selke Trophy. Patrice Bergeron had the other two votes as Pavel Datsyuk surprisingly received no votes! David Backes deserves the award for his great penalty killing, success in at the faceoff cirle and his great all around play with the large amount of hits and blocks.
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