Datsyuk earns fifth Selke nomination
Pavel Datsyuk will have a chance to win a record-tying fourth Frank J. Selke Trophy at the National Hockey League awards gala in June.
The forward with the Detroit Red Wings was one of three players shortlisted for the award for the league’s best defensive forward on Monday. The three-time Selke winner will be up against David Backes of the St. Louis Blues and Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins.
Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey holds the record with four Selke wins.
Also Monday, the NHL announced Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle, Florida’s Brian Campbell and Matt Moulson of the New York Islanders are the finalists for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which recognizes sportsmanship and skill.
Datsyuk, who won the Selke three straight years from 2007-10, was nominated for the fifth straight year.
He finished third in the league with 97 take-aways this season and was a plus21. He also won 56.2 per cent of the faceoffs he took.
Backes was a Plus-15 this season and took a team-high 1,353 faceoffs this year, winning 48.6 per cent of them. He also blocked 72 shots and dished out 226 hits.
Bergeron finished a plus36 this year, the highest rating in the league. He won 59.2 per cent of his faceoffs — the second-best average of the league — and was a fixture on the penalty-killing unit.