The three finalists for the 2012 Selke Award have been named. The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The finalists are David Backes, Patrice Bergeron and Paval Datsyuk.
David Backes plays for the St. Louis Blues. He led the team in with 24 goals and he had a plus 15 rating. He averages approximately 20 minutes a game and blocked 72 shots throughout the season. The Blues are the best defensive team in the league this year and Backes played a huge role in that.
Patrice Bergeron plays for the defending Stanley Cup Champs the Boston Bruins. Bergeron has dominated the face-off circle this season by winning 59.3 percent of the draws. He leads the league with a plus 36 rating and has 67 blocked shots this year. He finished the regular season with an impressive 64 points.
Pavel Datsyuk plays for the Detroit Red Wings. Datsyuk has 3 previous wins of the Selke Trophy and for good reason. He has scored 65 points for the 7th time in 8 years. He has 97 takeaways and a rating of plus 21. He averages about 19:30 minutes a game and has proven to be an essential part of the Red Wings line-up.
Well there you have it. Three very qualified candidates. They winner will be announced at the 2012 NHL Awards Show on June 20, 2012.
