What is the Selke Trophy?

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award presented to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) top defensive forward. The trophy is named after Frank J. Selke, a former executive with the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. Selke was known for his contributions to the development of modern hockey, particularly in the area of player personnel and scouting.

The Selke Trophy has been awarded annually since the 1977-78 NHL season. It is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA), a group of journalists who cover the NHL on a regular basis. The winner of the Selke Trophy is chosen based on a variety of criteria, including defensive play, penalty killing, and faceoff proficiency. In addition, the award recognizes a player’s contributions to their team’s success, both on and off the ice.

Over the years, many of the NHL’s most notable forwards have won the Selke Trophy. Steve Yzerman, a Hall of Famer who played for the Detroit Red Wings, won the award three times during his career. Yzerman was known for his exceptional two-way play, which made him a valuable asset to his team in all situations. Another notable winner of the Selke Trophy is Patrice Bergeron, who has won the award four times while playing for the Boston Bruins. Bergeron is widely regarded as one of the best defensive forwards of his generation, and his consistent excellence in both ends of the ice has made him a perennial contender for the Selke Trophy.

Winning the Selke Trophy is a significant accomplishment for any NHL player. It is an acknowledgment of the player’s exceptional skills and contributions to their team’s success. While offensive production is often the focus of attention in professional hockey, strong defensive play is essential to a team’s overall success. The Selke Trophy recognizes this fact and celebrates the players who excel in this area.

In conclusion, the Frank J. Selke Trophy is one of the NHL’s most prestigious awards. It recognizes the top defensive forward in the league and celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of players who excel in this area. Winning the Selke Trophy is a significant achievement and a testament to a player’s skill, hard work, and dedication to the sport of hockey.

2022 – Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

2021 – Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
2020 – Sean Couturier, Philadelphia Flyers
2019 – Ryan O’Reilly, St. Louis Blues

2018 – Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
2017 – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2016 – Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

2015 – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2014 – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2013 – Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

2012 – Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
2011 – Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
2010 – Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

2009 – Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
2008 – Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
2007 – Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes

2006 – Rod Brind’Amour, Carolina Hurricanes
2004 – Kris Draper, Detroit Red Wings
2003 – Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

2002 – Michael Peca, New York Islanders
2001 – John Madden, New Jersey Devils
2000 – Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings

1999 – Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars
1998 – Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars

1997 – Michael Peca, Buffalo Sabres

1996 – Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings

1995 – Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
1994 – Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings

1993 – Doug Gilmour, Toronto Maple Leafs
1992 – Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
1991 – Dirk Graham, Chicago Blackhawks

1990 – Rick Meagher, St. Louis Blues
1989 – Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
1988 – Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens

1987 – Dave Poulin, Philadelphia Flyers
1986 – Troy Murray, Chicago Blackhawks
1985 – Craig Ramsay, Buffalo Sabres

1984 – Doug Jarvis, Washington Capitals
1983 – Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers
1982 – Steve Kasper, Boston Bruins

1981 – Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
1980 – Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
1979 – Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens

1978 – Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens
1977 – Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup Aspirations – Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

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