NHL announces 2020-21 Frank Selke Trophy Finalists: Panthers’ Barkov, Bruins’ Bergeron and Vegas’ Stone

NEW YORK (June 6, 2021) – Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone are the three finalists for the 2020‑21 Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” the National Hockey League announced today.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy after the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winners of the 2021 NHL Awards presented by Bridgestone will be revealed during the Stanley Cup Semifinals and Stanley Cup Final, with exact dates, format and times to be announced.

Following are the finalists for the Selke Trophy, in alphabetical order:

Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

Barkov led a Florida forward corps that contributed to the Panthers posting their lowest team goals-against figure (2.70) since 2015-16 and a drop of more than half a goal per game over their 2019-20 figure of 3.25. He led Florida forwards and was ninth among NHL forwards in average ice time (20:56) and ranked 10th in the NHL in total face-offs (1,026), posting a 54.9% win percentage. The only players to exceed Barkov in both average ice time and face-off win percentage were Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar. Barkov is a first-time Selke finalist, adding to his three career nominations for the Lady Byng Trophy (2nd in 2015-16, 3rd in 2017-18, 1st in 2018-19). The 25-year-old Tampere, Finland, native is vying to become the fifth player in NHL history with career Selke and Lady Byng Trophy wins, joining Pavel DatsyukRon FrancisAnze Kopitar and Ryan O’Reilly.

Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins

Bergeron was again dominant in the face-off circle, leading the NHL in face-off wins (714) and win percentage (career-best 62.3%). It marked the 12th consecutive season he has eclipsed the 56-percent plateau. He led the Bruins with a +27 rating and ranked third in the League in the puck possession metric SAT% (62.5), with Boston accounting for 62.5% of all shot attempts 5-on-5 when Bergeron was on the ice (min: 25 GP). The 35-year-old Ancienne-Lorette, Que., native is a Selke Trophy finalist for the 10th straight season, extending his own mark in that category. The streak also matches the 10 consecutive years of top-three Hart Trophy finishes by Wayne Gretzky (1980 through 1989) as the longest ever for a voted NHL Award. Bergeron’s four Selke wins (2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17) are tied for the most in NHL history with Bob Gainey, who captured the trophy each of the first four years it was awarded (1978-81 w/ MTL).

Mark Stone, RW, Vegas Golden Knights

Stone led all Vegas forwards in average ice time (19:04) on the team that posted the League’s best team goals-against figure (2.18 GA/game) and finished second in the League’s overall standings (40-14-2, 82 points). He also logged the third-most total ice time among forwards on the NHL’s best penalty-killing unit, as the Golden Knights allowed just 19 power-play goals in 144 times shorthanded (86.8%). The Vegas captain led the NHL in takeaways for the second time in three seasons with 58 and recorded a career-best +26 rating, tops among team forwards. Stone is a Selke Trophy finalist for the second time in three seasons (2nd in 2018-19) and an NHL Awards finalist for the third time (2nd, Calder Trophy, in 2014-15). The 29-year-old Winnipeg native is the second Golden Knights player announced as a 2020-21 NHL Awards finalist to date, joining goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (Vezina).

History

The Frank J. Selke Trophy was presented in 1977 by the NHL’s Board of Governors in honor of Frank J. Selke, one of the great architects of Montreal’s and Toronto’s championship teams.

COURTESY NHLmedia.com

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