Aleksander Barkov, Patrice Bergeron and Mark Stone named NHL’s Selke Trophy finalists

Flordia Panthers center Aleksander Barkov, Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron and Vegas Golden Knights winger Mark Stone have been named as finalists for the Frank J. Selke trophy.

The award is handed out annually to “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”

Barkov helped the Panthers post their lowest goals against per game (2.70) since 2015-16 and a drop of over half a goal per game from last years 3.25. Barkov led Florida forwards and was ninth among forwards across the league in ice time (20:56) and won 54.9% of his 1,026 faceoffs this year. This is Barkov’s first Selke nomination. If he were to win the award, he would become the fifth player to win a Selke and a Lady Byng trophy in their career joining Pavel Datsyuk, Ron Francis, Anze Kopitar and Ryan O’Reilly.

Bergeron was dominant in the faceoff circle this year posting a career high 62.3% marking the 12th straight year he eclipsed 56%. He’s a nominee for the Selke trophy for the 10th straight year matching Wayne Gretzky’s 10-years of Hart Trophy nominations (1980 through 1989) as the longest ever for a voted NHL award.

Stone, meanwhile, led all Vegas forwards in ice time averaging 19:04 a night on a team that posted the league’s best goals-against per game with 2.18. It’s his second Selke nomination in the last three years.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.