CaliSports News – NHL Awards Predictions

SELKE TROPHY (BEST DEFENSIVE FORWARD)

Nominees

Patrice Bergeron – Boston Bruins

Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings

Jonathan Toews – Chicago Blackhawks

Predictions

Emily – Anze Kopitar

Since I didn’t predict Doughty to win the Norris trophy this year, I have to pick one King to win, and I’ve felt if there wasn’t such an East Coast bias in voting, this would have been more than Kopitar’s second nomination. He deserves it.

Bergeron is the current recipient of the trophy. Jonathan Toews won it the year before and Bergeron won again the year before that. Both have been nominated four times. The year Toews last won the Selke he also won the Stanley Cup, a feat his team managed to accomplish this year too so here’s to hoping this isn’t a trend. Honestly this one was kind of crap shoot but I like Kopitar the best. It’s not scientific by any means but that’s my prediction.

Lori – Jonathan Toews

As a Kings’ fan, it pains me to choose anyone over Anze Kopitar, who is a deserving Selke candidate, one of the best two-way forwards in the game and has never won this award. He has been nominated once before and truly, last year should have been his year.

While the nominees are named for their regular season play, it’s worth pointing out that both Kopitar’s and Bergeron’s teams missed the playoffs this year and frankly, the 2014-2015 season wasn’t Kopitar’s best – he’s the only candidate who left the regular season with a minus rating.  My view is that they will give Kopitar some love this year, but likely in the Lady Byng category for which he is also nominated for and has a better shot at winning, given his superior sportsmanship record.

That said, Bergeron won last year and there is no doubt that Jonathan Toews will – and should – win this year. Never mind that the captain led his team to a Stanley Cup for the third time in six years – we’re not supposed to take that into consideration – but his regular season record, his unquestionable leadership and outstanding offensive numbers will likely catapult him ahead for this award.

Mike – Jonathan Toews

Toews (sigh) had a +/- of 30 and routinely is matched up against top lines of other teams. Obviously he plays well on offense but as you can see in the playoffs he can shut down opposites lines as well. (Off record you know the league loves him too)

Jeff – Jonathan Toews

I strongly feel that Kopitar should have won this award over this same old Bergeron and Toews duo last year but I can honestly admit that I was surprised to see him nominated this year after having such a poor season.  As mentioned above, Bergeron’s Bruins also didn’t make the playoffs like Kopitar’s Kings but Kopitar is the only one nominated for this defensive award with a minus 2 stat.  That’s not good.

Toews had another monster regular season that only gets more monstrous if you include his playoff stats and the fact he captained the Hawks to their 3rd Stanley Cup in 6 seasons.  I predict that Toews will be adding another trophy to his already impressive trophy case at home.