Selke Race 2016-2017

[gwh]

List of Players who:

1A) Have 700.00+ 5v5 minutes registered
1B) Have a 5v5 SZVA FA60 < 38.00
2A) Have 100.00+ 4v5 minutes registered
2B) Have a 4v5 SZVA FA60 < 65.00
3) Have 2.00+ 3v5 minutes registered

Those four players are:
Mikael Backlund - 45pts in 64GP
Patrice Bergeron - 40pts in 60GP
Anze Kopitar - 36pts in 57GP
Paul Stastny - 36pts in 57GP

If Backlund isn't even mentioned as a Selke candidate, it will speak volumes to how east-centric the media really is.

Interesting list, but the last category is just rubbish. Double minors happen maybe once a season for some teams.

 

[DJJones]

Interesting list, but the last category is just rubbish. Double minors happen maybe once a season for some teams.

What a magical thing that must be for some teams. Calgary probably has a few forwards well passed that marker.

Not sure where you find that though.

 

[Zalos]

Kopitar has 36 points? That is terrible. What has happened to him?

 

[Community]

I'd agree with that. Those two are at the top, I think.

Kadri deserves mention, but he's definitely a good two or more steps behind them. I think he should get some votes, but he shouldn't get 1st place votes.

This is honestly all I'm hoping for. If Kadri gets to be one of the nominations, I would be beyond excited as a Leaf's fan. I know he's improved his defensive game a lot and taken on most of the toughest competition which has helped him define his game and help the Leafs a TON. Add the fact that his offensive game has exploded a bit (especially goal scoring) and that we all know offense plays a bigger role than it should in the Selke vote and I could see him getting to be that 3rd nomination.

His lack of PK time obviously hurts (although I don't think this should matter as much as it does to fans... Penalty killing does not always show how great a player is defensively, sometimes players play on the PK just because they are fast, good at faceoffs, or physical in front of the net) and despite his massive improvements, he is definitely not the top defensive forward in the NHL.

top 5 in voting would be great, one of the nominations would be exceptional. I think it could also really help Kadri to further invest his time into improving his defense if he sees how close he was to getting a Selke (not that his drive is low, but when you see how close you were to a goal it often gives you a kick in the pants to push that much harder for it).

 

[Community]

Kopitar has 36 points? That is terrible. What has happened to him?

I'll tell you what has happened, I drafted him in fantasy and he decided to make me look like an idiot


Edit: Also I think he was playing with some pretty weak offensive linemates while Toffoli was out (who I also drafted...).

 

[gwh]

Kopitar has 36 points? That is terrible. What has happened to him?

Kopitar looked spectacular in the Joke Cup... Followed with season like this? Bizarre.

I blame the aliens.

 

[txpd]

Backstrom

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Kopitar has 36 points? That is terrible. What has happened to him?

Injured, then apparently confidence affected by a plummeted shooting percentage. Early in the year he was at least beastly the production just wasn't following. now he looks like he's skating with a piano on his back. DIdn't help that he hit literally a post a game for like 15 games straight there.

Shouldn't really be in the Selke race at this point. Not because of production, but he's visibly not himself for the last 15 or so games.

Also curious why some Wild fans are pumping Granlund over Koivu other than the simple hype machine that's currently going on. He's gonna have an uphill battle there when Koivu is the center visibly doing some of the heavy lifting for him.

 

[LUV Carti*]

Bergeron >= Koivu > Backlund

 

[gwh]

Also curious why some Wild fans are pumping Granlund over Koivu other than the simple hype machine that's currently going on. He's gonna have an uphill battle there when Koivu is the center visibly doing some of the heavy lifting for him.

Probably because Granlund and Koivu are leading NHL in goals against 60 and scoring chances 60. Similar numbers. Also Granlund creates high profile turnovers in the offensive zone leading to scoring chances.

Personally I think Granlund and Zucker can play that high only because Koivu is keeping the back end clean. They couldn't check that hard with Staal behind them.

 

[TheMule93]

Think Zetterberg has a shot at it? 60 pts in 71 games, amazing defensively as always. Doubt he wins it due to being on a **** team, though. Its crazy he never was awarded a selke in his career TBH.

 

[MtlBoxFan]

Does anyone else find it frustrating that points in a season is becoming an increasingly important benchmark for handing out the Selke?

"The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. "

If a guy is a 30 point guy, but is the best in all defensive categories, then he deserves the trophy.

 

[DJJones]

Does anyone else find it frustrating that points in a season is becoming an increasingly important benchmark for handing out the Selke?

"The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. "

If a guy is a 30 point guy, but is the best in all defensive categories, then he deserves the trophy.

It's gotta be both. Cracking 50 points should be a threshold(after that it doesn't matter) but after that it should be defense.

 

[MtlBoxFan]

but after that it should be defense.

No. It's a best defensive forward award. Defense comes first, offense comes second. There should be no minimum threshold.

 

[DJJones]

No. It's a best defensive forward award. Defense comes first, offense comes second. There should be no minimum threshold.

Except that's not how it's ever worked.

 

[MtlBoxFan]

Except that's not how it's ever worked.

Really? It has evolved over the years. When the trophy was conceived, it was awarded to Gainey 4 years straight. I'd say that sets the benchmark on how it was intended to work. Gainey never scored more than 57 points in a live puck era.

Despite his lack of offense, Karlamov called him the best player in the world.

When they awarded it to Doug Gilmour, that's when things changed. Gilmour had 127 points that year.

Chris Draper was probably the last pure defensive specialist to win the trophy. After that, it's been given to 2 way forwards with top line offense.

 

[Bank Shot]

Except that's not how it's ever worked.

No. That's not right.

Bob Gainey won the first 5 Selkes and he never cracked 50 points in his career.
Rick Meagher won it with 25 points.
Madden and Draper won it in the 2000's with low scoring seasons.

Since the lockout its only gone to first line players.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Safe to assume Bergeron, Kesler and Koivu will be the nominees, or does Toews sneak in again?

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

It should be Bergeron again. The best defensive forward in the league, despite an early injury and nearly suffering a broken neck last night.

 

[sadpanda]

I really hope Koivu wins this year.

 

[End of Line]

Backlund at least deserves a nomination this season.

 

[Wings4Life]

Backstrom

Agree here. Probably won't win, but deserves a nomination at least.

 

[Trap Jesus]

The "passes the Bergeron test" Sportlogiq advanced stats look at the Selke:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/five-major-contenders-selke-trophy-season/

Tavares suggestion is pretty out of left field.

There really is no measure that doesn't support Bergeron winning again. People look at this award in so many different ways, but Bergeron checks the boxes on all of them.

 

[AuraSphere]

I think Barkov is really underrated.

 

[Trap Jesus]

I think Barkov is really underrated.

Games played is the big one for him, and probably will continue to be. He'd probably be nominated if he played closer to a full slate of games.