NHL announces Selke Trophy Finalists - is Bob Gainey's record still safe?
Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, and Elias Lindholm of the Calgary Flames are the three finalists for the 2021-22 Frank J. Selke Trophy. The award, which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, is given «to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.»
The Panthers captain has led his team's forward group in average ice time per game (20:18). Barkov finished top-10 among NHL forwards in face-off win percentage (57%), posted 57.86% share in unblocked shot attempts, and a .919 on-ice save percentage. Barkov won the award last season.
Bergeron is a finalist for this award for 11 straight seasons, the Bruins captain led the NHL in face-off wins (991) and face-off win percentage (61.9%) while also topping all forwards in puck possession (65.58). His expected goals against (23.11) was the lowest among all NHL forwards and he finished with a .929 on-ice save percentage. A four-time Selke winner, Bergeron is tied with Gainey, who won the award from 1978-81 with the Montreal Canadiens.
Lindholm led the Flames' forward group in blocked shots (52), takeaways (55), and shorthanded ice time (2:07). He also finished fifth in the NHL in face-off wins (842) and recorded a .930 on-ice save percentage. Lindholm is a first-time finalist for the Selke and the first Flame up for the award since Craig Conroy in 2001-02. He could become the first player in franchise history to win it.
| POLL | ||
Who will win the Frank J. Selke Trophy this year? | ||
| Aleksander Barkov | 61 | 29.2 % |
| Patrice Bergeron | 111 | 53.1 % |
| Elias Lindholm | 37 | 17.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
