2014 NHL Awards Preview – Frank Selke Trophy

HHOF.com

As we continue our look at the upcoming NHL Awards, we turn our attention to the Frank J. Selke Trophy.  Although it is labelled as the award for the best defensive forward it has become a sort of consolation for a Hart snub and is more often than not given to an outstanding offensive player who is also very good in his own end.

The Frank J Selke Trophy is awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game

Since the 2004-05 lockout, nobody has won the Selke with less than 64 points (or at least pro-rated in the case of Jonathan Toews in 2013).  This trophy is among those that are decided by reputation, and once you are in the conversation you tend to stay there.  That is the case this season with two of the nominees being very familiar to the award, looking for their second win and the third making his first appearance as a finalist.

And the nominees are…