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Boston Bruins Awards Watch: Patrice Bergeron on pace for another Selke

By Caylee Allard

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 05: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 05, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bergeron was playing in his 1,100th NHL game. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 05: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center on February 05, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bergeron was playing in his 1,100th NHL game. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /
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Boston Bruins‘ captain Patrice Bergeron is no stranger to the Frank J. Selke trophy. He has won four of them in his career, tying Bob Gainey for the most in NHL history. If he wins this year, he will have the most Selkes ever won by any player.

This season, Bergeron should easily be in the running once again.

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.”

Bergeron’s stats this year show that he repeatedly proves he is one of the best two-way forwards in history.

He currently holds the best faceoff percentage in the league at 61.4%. More specifically, he is at 61.3% in the neutral zone, 63.2% in the offensive zone, and 59.1% in the defensive zone. Bergeron is consistent in all aspects on both sides of the game.

Per the graphic above, you can see the overwhelming results of this season’s GAR – Goals Above Replacement. Bergeron dominates both the offensive and defensive ends.

So far, Bergeron is on pace to meet Selke “requirements” by the end of the season. Per a Reddit post, it has been found that Selke winners have the following in common:

  • Rule 1: Be a center.

13/13 Selke Winners are centers.
36/39 Selke Finalists are centers.

  • Rule 2: Score at least 50 points.

13/13 Selke Winners scored at least 50 points.
37/39 Selke Finalists scored at least 50 points.

  • Rule 3: Take a lot of faceoffs. Win a lot of faceoffs.

13/13 Selke Winners have at least 53.0% faceoff percentage.
33/39 Selke Finalists have at least 53.0% faceoff percentage.

  • Rule 4: Spend a lot of time killing penalties.

12/13 Selke Winners average at least 1:30 per game on the PK.
33/39 Selke Finalists average at least 1:30 per game on the PK.

  • Rule 5: Have strong possession numbers.

13/13 Selke Winners have had a Corsi above 53%.
30/39 Selke Finalists have had a Corsi above 53%.

  • Rule 6: Be on a Top 10 defensive team (in GAA).

12/13 Selke Winners have been on a Top 10 defensive team.
30/39 Selke Finalists have been on a Top 10 defensive team.

The only requirement he has not met so far is reaching 50 points. He is at 46 with 21 goals and 25 assists.

Even if Bergeron doesn’t win the Selke this year, the 35-year-old center is as sharp as he’s ever been. He is up against some much younger faces in Kappo Kakko (19) and Valeri Nichushkin (25). Joe Pavelski is 36 years old and a strong candidate, however, his 51.8% faceoff percentage is far below Bergeron’s 61.4%.

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If the captain can continue to play as he has, we may just witness history this summer at the NHL Awards.

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