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Boston Bruins Forward Patrice Bergeron Selke Finalist

By Brandon Share-Cohen

Mar 6, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) picks the puck away from Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2017; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators center Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) picks the puck away from Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Bruins 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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In a shock to absolutely nobody, Patrice Bergeron is a Selke Trophy finalist. The Boston Bruins centerman has bene a Selke finalist six times in his career. He’s also a three-time winner, coming on top in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Bergeron may be a legitimate goal and point producer in the Bruins offense, but it’s his defensive ability that has always stood out.

This season, Bergeron led the NHL in SAT percentage with 61.10 among players who played in a minimum of 40 games. He also led the league in faceoff wins with 1,089 and was third in faceoff percentage among players with at least 500 attempts – 60.1 percent. Leading the NHL with a 61.12 Corsi For percentage, Bergeron also took the third most shots in the NHL this season with 302.

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If Bergeron wins the Selke trophy for the fourth time, he’ll become the second player to do so in history. The only other player to do so was Bob Gainey – one of the best two-way forwards in NHL history.

Other Finalists

While Bergeron is deserving of his fourth Selke nod, both Ryan Kesler and Mikko Koivu would like to hear their names called for the award as well. Kesler won the Selke Trophy in 2011. He’s also a five-time finalist, most recently coming in the 2016 season prior to this year. He’s certainly proved that he’s no slouch on the defensive side of the game. He won the third-most faceoffs in the league this year with 1,029, 60 behind Bergeron. He also ranked third among forwards with 21:18 of average ice time – eclipsing Bergeron’s 19:25 per game. The Ducks forward also finished sixth in the NHL in faceoff percentage winning 57.4 percent of his attempts.

For Koivu, this is his first time making the cut as a finalist. The closest he’s ever come to winning the Selke came in 2009 when he finished fourth in the voting. He won 55.2 percent of his faceoffs this season and finished the year with a plus-27 rating and 65 blocked shots.

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Each of the three finalists has their own case in this race. For Bergeron, however, the numbers simply look too good to not award him his record-tying fourth Selke Award. Only time will tell, but there are few players as consistent defensively each and every season as No. 37.

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