[Report] Bergeron, Kesler, Kopitar named Selke finalists

[-Vintage Canuck-]

Quote

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron will look to win the Selke Trophy for the third straight season, and fourth time in his career.

 

Along with Bergeron, centers Ryan Kesler of the Anaheim Ducks and Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings were named as finalists Thursday. The winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on June 22.

 

The trophy is awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.

 

Bergeron led the League with 1,978 faceoffs taken and won 57.1 percent, the fifth straight season he won at least 57 percent. He also won 389 defensive-zone faceoffs, which led the Eastern Conference. Bergeron averaged 19:50 of ice time per game, had 32 goals and 36 assists in 80 games and was a plus-12.

 

It's the fifth straight season Bergeron is a Selke finalist. He won the award in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and could become the second four-time winner. Hockey Hall of Fame member Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens won the Selke four straight seasons from 1977-78 to 1980-81.

 

Kesler is a finalist for the fourth time, and first since 2011. He finished second in faceoff win percentage (58.5), including at least a 50-percent success rate in 58 of 79 games. Kesler ranked first in the League in defensive-zone faceoff wins (441) and shorthanded wins (168). He averaged 2:45 of shorthanded ice time per game and was a big reason the Ducks led the League with an 87.2-percent success rate on the penalty kill. Kesler had 21 goals, 32 assists and a plus-5 rating in 79 games. He also tied for the League lead in blocks among forwards (92).

 

Kopitar, a Selke finalist for the third straight season, was the runner-up in each of the past two seasons. He led all forwards in total ice time (1,690:12) and averaged 20:52 per game, including 2:09 shorthanded. Kopitar was fifth in faceoffs taken (1,776) and seventh in faceoff wins (950), and won 53.5 percent. Kopitar was third in the League among forwards in shot attempts differential; the Kings had 332 more shot attempts than they allowed when he was on the ice. He also ranked second in the League in plus/minus (plus-34), and had 25 goals and 49 assists in 81 games.

https://www.nhl.com/news/selke-trophy-finalists/c-280504308?tid=277729400

[Twilight Sparkle]

i'd give the nod to kes for helping turn that team around

[Herberts Vasiljevs]

Kes. 

[Odd.]

Kesler easy

[The Weasel]

I hope kes wins cuz &^@# the bruins and &^@# the kings.

[Spotted Zebra]

Kesler, he showed up when the rest of his team didn't. 

[baumerman77]

Bergeron should win again and if he does he will tie Gainey for the most wins - 4. 

[JV77]

What is this even based on?  Every year it's the same old candidates.

[X-PatLostInEdm]

41 minutes ago, JV77 said:

What is this even based on?  Every year it's the same old candidates.

I don't know who picks the candidates, but two of these guys just got first-round bounced and the third guy never even made it that far. There had to be better choices out there.

[saucypass]

Whether you love him or hate him, I honestly believe Kesler wholeheartedly deserves the Selke this year. Villain or no villain, the dude has the toughest assignments out of anybody in the NHL, although it's close between him and Bergeron. Kopitar is great, but doesn't play the same level of competition as Kesler and Bergeron. 

 

Anaheim finished with the best special teams in the LEAGUE despite their slow and horrid start. Guess who plays on both the PK AND PP? You guessed it...

[Nave]

I'm going with Kesler. Huge reason for their turnaround, but he was solid even when the team wasn't playing well. 

[baumerman77]

1 hour ago, JV77 said:

What is this even based on?  Every year it's the same old candidates.

Whatever the people who vote want to base it on. 

 

NHL awards are a joke.

[khay]

Bergeron will win it but Kesler definitely deserves it as much.

[WHL rocks]

Kopitar = Selke.

 

Doughty for Norris, Holtby for Vezna, OV for Rocket and Hart, Kane for Lindsay, Crybaby for Pierre Mcguire's dream date.

[Green Building]

Surprised this isn't a trade request report   /jk

 

Kopitar's year?

[Patrick Kane]

2 hours ago, X-PatLostInEdm said:

I don't know who picks the candidates, but two of these guys just got first-round bounced and the third guy never even made it that far. There had to be better choices out there.

Oh, I didn't know the Playoffs mattered for Regular season awards.

[Master Mind]

Selke should go to the best defensive bottom 6 forward, otherwise it's the same few players nominated every year.

 

Hope Kesler wins though. Not only because of being a former Canuck, but at least he's a 2nd line centre and not a 1st.

[stonecoldstevebernier]

3 hours ago, JV77 said:

What is this even based on?  Every year it's the same old candidates.

The NHL Selke Lottery. You throw balls labelled Bergeron, Toews, Kesler, Datsyuk, and Kopitar into a machine to determine the winner. The law of averages might suggest its Kopitar's time to win, but anything can happen...

[Coconuts]

Can't spell Kesler without Selke.

 

That being said, he'd deserve it this go round. Wouldn't be opposed to seeing Kopi win either, but Bergeron can get lost.

[Moonshinefe]

The Ducks had over 100pts and Kesler was a whopping +5 53PTS on the season with that team. Kopitar was +34 74PTS.

 

.I don't really know in what world people think Kesler deserves it more, I certainly think Kopitar had the far superior season. Yeah okay, he's a 1st liner Kesler is a 2nd liner, but Kesler got plenty of PP time if I recall correctly. I wouldn't give him a -29 difference in slack because he's on the 2nd line.