The Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward in the NHL, has always been a challenging award to measure. Traditionally, it has been interpreted as recognizing players who excel at preventing goals and shutting down opposing offenses. However, with the evolution of the game and the growing importance of offensive contributions from forwards, the criteria for the Selke Trophy are no longer as clear-cut.
One of the main difficulties in measuring the Selke Trophy is determining how to interpret the award. Players themselves are uncertain about the specific criteria and categories that factor into the decision-making process. Los Angeles Kings center Phillip Danault expressed his confusion, mentioning possibilities such as Corsi, plus-minus, faceoff success, and defensive statistics.
Another challenge lies in accurately assessing defensive prowess. Publicly available data on defense is limited, making it difficult to capture a player’s ability to prevent offense from being generated in the first place. As a result, basic box score statistics like ice time, plus-minus, and blocks are often relied upon, but these only scratch the surface of a player’s defensive abilities.
For many years, Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins embodied the Selke Trophy. His on-ice awareness, timely scoring, stick positioning, and overall solid defense made him the perfect model for the award. However, with Bergeron’s retirement, the field is now wide open for other top defensive forwards to make their case. This raises two important questions: how should the award be interpreted in today’s game, and which players should be considered?
To determine the best defensive forwards in the league, we can start by looking at players with the best Defensive Ratings who meet specific criteria, including at least 15 minutes of ice time per game and at least 15 minutes of short-handed ice time. Currently, Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov lead the way in this regard. Their strong defensive ratings are bolstered by their ability to play well together, spending around 70% of their five-on-five and short-handed minutes on the ice together.
Barkov, who won the Selke Trophy in 2021, has earned his reputation as a two-way player through consistent solid play over the years. Despite facing tough competition, Florida only concedes about two expected goals against per 60 minutes of play with Barkov on the ice, which is better than his teammates. His anticipation, positioning, and ability to close lanes in the defensive zone contribute to his effective defense.
Reinhart’s defensive abilities should not be solely attributed to playing with Barkov. He has developed into a strong two-way player in his own right, consistently suppressing expected goals against and excelling at retrieving pucks in the defensive zone to transition his team from defense to offense.
In addition to Barkov and Reinhart, several other players deserve consideration for the Selke Trophy. Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes has been excellent defensively, limiting opponents’ expected goals against and shutting down top competition. Seth Jarvis, another Hurricane, has shown significant improvement in his two-way game during his breakout season. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs has thrived against top competition despite limited defensive support from his team.
Jason Dickinson of the Chicago Blackhawks has been remarkably steady defensively, outperforming his teammates in terms of expected goals against and goals allowed. Adam Lowry of the Winnipeg Jets has been a strong defensive presence down the middle of their third line. Teuvo Teravainen of the Hurricanes has also had a bounce-back year on both ends of the ice.
Roope Hintz of the Dallas Stars shoulders a significant defensive workload and has emerged as their leading defensive center. Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings has a history of contending for the Selke Trophy and remains a stable defensive presence this season.
While play in the defensive zone is a crucial aspect of the Selke Trophy, today’s game requires defensive forwards to contribute offensively as well. Players must be high-end offensive contributors to be considered complete players. This evolution in the game has made it challenging for traditional “clamp-down” defensive forwards who have negative offensive ratings, such as Staal, Lowry, and Dickinson, to compete for the award.
Usage is another important factor in determining the Selke Trophy winner. Coaches deploy these players in various situations, including penalty killing, protecting leads, and when their goaltender is pulled for an extra attacker. Centers tend to have an advantage in this regard, as they are often asked to do more defensively. Wingers must be exceptional in both offensive and defensive aspects to have a chance at winning the award.
Considering all these factors, Barkov should be considered the favorite for the Selke Trophy this season. His stellar two-way play and reputation as a complete player set the standard for the award in today’s game. However, players like Reinhart, Jarvis, Matthews, Staal, and Kopitar deserve recognition for their defensive contributions as well. The absence of Bergeron opens up new opportunities for these players to make their mark on the Selke Trophy race.
In conclusion, the Selke Trophy remains a challenging award to assess due to the evolving nature of the game and the increasing importance of offensive contributions from forwards. While traditional defensive statistics provide some insight, a comprehensive evaluation of a player’s defensive abilities requires a deeper analysis of their impact on preventing goals and generating offense. The race for the Selke Trophy this season is wide open, with new faces emerging as contenders alongside established defensive stalwarts.