Now that the six-time Frank J. Selke Trophy winner Patrice Bergeron has retired after an illustrious NHL profession, prime defensive forwards have a larger probability of being named the league’s prime defensive ahead.
On the conclusion of final season, Bergeron captured his second straight win and NHL-best sixth-overall after being named a finalist in 12 straight seasons. He acquired 187 of a attainable 196 first-place en path to essentially the most decisive win within the award’s historical past with 1,914 factors.
The 2 different finalists have been New Jersey Devils heart Nico Hischier and Toronto Maple Leafs proper wing Mitch Marner. Hischier was the runner-up with 804 factors adopted by Marner’s 480. It was the primary time each gamers had been named as finalists for the Selke, however with Bergeron hanging up the skates, it may solely be the start.
Because the 2011-12 season, solely Los Angeles Kings heart Anze Kopitar has gained the award greater than as soon as within the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons.
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Marner has acquired votes within the final 5 seasons, solidifying himself as an elite, two-way winger for the Leafs. One factor going in opposition to Marner is his place. The final non-center to win the Selke Award was Dallas Stars proper wing Jere Lehtinen in 2002-03. Lehtinen beat out Devils heart John Madden and Minnesota Wild heart Wes Walz. Possibly Marner can beat the percentages this season and take dwelling the {hardware}.
The opposite large identify that may be a previous winner that shouldn’t be neglected is Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov who beat our Bergeron in 2020-21. Barkov not solely beat out Bergeron that season, however he was a finalist the subsequent yr as nicely.
With the Selke being essentially the most reputation-based of all of the NHL awards, Hischier could find yourself on the prime of the checklist just because he was the runner-up final season, however Kopitar may earn his third trophy if he performs as constantly as he has in years previous. Marner is definitely the darkish horse of the group, however he’s a favourite among the many Skilled Hockey Writers Affiliation.
With Bergeron out of the operating, who does the long run Corridor of Famer assume will seize the trophy that Bruins followers are hoping to be renamed?
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“(Nico) Hischier is an efficient participant developing,” Bergeron instructed NESN.com on the Bruins Gold Carpet occasion on opening evening at TD Backyard on Oct. 11. “There’s a whole lot of good gamers so it’s onerous to pinpoint.”
Whereas Bergeron didn’t identify a transparent favourite, it’s onerous to miss his nod at Hischier.