NHL quarter horses: Any Boston Bruins in the mix for awards?

Selke Trophy

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is given out each season to the forward who best demonstrates proficiency in the defensive aspect of the game.  There are two players in NHL history who have won the award 4 times:  Bob Gainey, who won the award the first 4 times it was awarded, and Patrice Bergeron.  I’d like to hope that in 50 years, when my grandkids and I are watching the NHL Awards show, the NHL will give out the award named after my pick:  Patrice Bergeron, C, Boston Bruins.

When all is said and done, and his skates are hung up, I think Patrice Bergeron will go down as one of the best all-around hockey players to play the game.  He is a leader on and off the ice.  Bergeron can score and distribute when called upon.  And most importantly for this award, his defensive prowess is unrivaled in the game today.

The Bruins were pretty much garbage defensively when he was out at the beginning of the season.  In 14 games, Bergeron has 4 goals, 8 assists, and a +7 rating.  He has a 57% faceoff percentage, and spends 2:04 of each game killing penalties.  Bergeron will do what he does each year:  score 50+ points, win about 60% of his faceoffs, and kill penalties all day.  And with that, he’s on pace to put a 5th Selke in his trophy case.

Honorable Mention:  Anze Kopitar, C, Los Angeles Kings.  The Los Angeles Kings are back, and Kopitar is one of the driving forces behind the renaissance.  The Kings captain has amassed 9 goals, 14 assists and a +4 rating in 20 games.  While he’s been more offensively potent this season, he loses the edge to Bergeron in plus/minus and faceoff percentage (54.7%), the stats that really matter for the Selke.