The National Hockey League started announcing the finalists for its major year end awards yesterday. This afternoon they revealed the finalists for the Frank Selke Trophy, which is given to the league’s best defensive forward, and the Penguins Jordan Staal was amongst them.
Staal is joined by the Detroit Red Wings Pavel Datsyuk, and the Vancouver Canucks Ryan Kesler.
The league’s release laid out Staal’s credentials and they are pretty impressive.
Staal received plenty of ice time against the NHL’s top centers in 2009-10, appearing in all 82 games and ranking third among Pittsburgh forwards in ice time per game (19:23), trailing only Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He played more shorthanded minutes (274:08) than every NHL forward except St. Louis’ Jay McClement (306:53). The 21-year-old also led the Penguins in plus-minus with a career-best +19 rating. Staal is a Selke finalist for the first time and will be making his second trip to the NHL Awards, having finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy as the League’s top rookie in 2007.
This nomination has been a long time coming for Staal, who was instrumental in his team’s post season success the past two seasons. Especially last year, as his short handed goal against the Red Wings is largely credited with changing the momentum of a series that the Penguins were in danger of falling into a deep hole in.
The road to the Selke will not be an easy one, especially considering the credentials of his two competitors, but the nomination shows that Staal has definitely developed a reputation as one of the league’s best.
Here is the full release…
Datsyuk, Kesler and Staal Named Selke Trophy Finalists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / APRIL 20, 2010DATSYUK, KESLER AND STAAL NAMED SELKE TROPHY FINALISTS
NEW YORK (April 20, 2010) — Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings, Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks and Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins are the three finalists for the 2009-10 Frank Selke Trophy, awarded “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” the National Hockey League announced today.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association submitted ballots for the Frank Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada.
Following are the finalists for the Frank Selke Trophy, in alphabetical order:
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
A master at getting and keeping the puck, Datsyuk led the NHL in takeaways for the third time in the past four seasons with a career-high 132, nearly 60% more than second-place Ryan Kesler of Vancouver (83). Datsyuk ranked second on the Red Wings in plus-minus with a +17 rating and was the club’s top face-off man, posting a 55% winning percentage (590 of 1,070). Datsyuk could become the first player to win the Selke Trophy for three consecutive seasons since Bob Gainey of the Montreal Canadiens won it the first four seasons it was presented, from 1978 through 1981.
Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks
Kesler ranked second in the League in takeaways (83), appeared in all 82 games and averaged a career-high 19:37 in ice time, second among Canucks forwards to Henrik Sedin. The speedy center ranked ninth among NHL centers in face-offs taken (1,401), winning a team-best and career-high 55% of them (772), led the Canucks in total shorthanded time (218:20), dished out 95 hits and recorded 73 blocked shots. Kesler has earned a berth as a Selke Trophy finalist for the second consecutive season, finishing third in last year’s voting behind Datsyuk and Philadelphia’s Mike Richards.
Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins
Staal received plenty of ice time against the NHL’s top centers in 2009-10, appearing in all 82 games and ranking third among Pittsburgh forwards in ice time per game (19:23), trailing only Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He played more shorthanded minutes (274:08) than every NHL forward except St. Louis’ Jay McClement (306:53). The 21-year-old also led the Penguins in plus-minus with a career-best +19 rating. Staal is a Selke finalist for the first time and will be making his second trip to the NHL Awards, having finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy as the League’s top rookie in 2007.
History
The trophy was presented in 1977 by the National Hockey League Board of Governors in honor of Frank J. Selke, one of the great architects of Montreal and Toronto championship teams.
Announcement Schedule
The NHL will announce the three finalists for each of its awards daily. The remaining announcement schedule:
Wednesday, April 21 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (skill/sportsmanship)
Thursday, April 22 Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie)
Friday, April 23 James Norris Memorial Trophy (top defenseman)
Monday, April 26 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (perseverance and dedication to hockey)
Tuesday, April 27 NHL Foundation Player Award (contributions to charitable causes)
Wednesday, April 28 Jack Adams Award (top head coach)
Thursday, April 29 Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)
Congrads to Jordan Staal. Nice to see him get in the top 3 for his work during the regular season. Now hope this helps get him out of the slump he’s in and score a goal tonight.
Nice to see the man get some props….
Very nice Kid too, would be nice to see him get some personal hardware to put in the cabinet.
Cant believe at the age of 30 I can call him a kid, but he still is!
It’s fine and dandy that the NHL wants to give the recognition, but at the end of the day…who cares? A Selke Trophy is nothing compared to that “Other Trophy” that’s handed out in June. I wish they would hand all of these things out in that few days before the playoffs start