Another day, another NHL award announced. This evening it was the honor of best defensive forward, which went to Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier. The league named Couturier the recipient of the Frank J. Selke Trophy for the 2019-20 season, his first time winning the award. The Selke Trophy is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association and is awarded to the forward deemed to “best excel in the defensive aspects of the game.”
Couturier faced stiff competition for the honor this season, as 2018-19 winner Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues and four-time winner and nine-time finalist Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins were also named finalists. Yet, the race was not particularly close. Couturier finished with 117 of a possible 170 first-place votes, 96 more than Bergeron in second. His 1424 total voting points were also 540 more than Bergeron. O’Reilly finished close behind in third, with Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli in fourth and Vegas’ Mark Stone and Montreal’s Phillip Danault finishing in a distant fifth and sixth respectively.
Couturier has grown into one of if not the best face-off man in the NHL, a main reason he ran away with the Selke this season. He won 59.7% of his draws, more than any other player in the league (with a minimum 50 face-offs). He also ranked second in defensive zone face-off percentage. On the club level, he led all Flyers forwards in average time on ice and short-handed ice time per game and led all Philadelphia skaters in plus/minus and Corsi. Additionally, Couturier finished second in scoring for Philly, just two points behind Travis Konecny for the team lead.
Good for him
Only trophies that mean anything are Art Ross, Rocket Richard, and Stanley Cup. All others are beauty pageants. Good for him though. LOL
actually its just the Stanley Cup moron
That’s a pretty arbitrary response. I guess we can let Coots know jmartin87 does not think his award means anything.
Sorry folks, but jmartin87 hit the nail on the head. Any trophy that isnt given out based on performance is voted on and therefore nothing but a popularity contest. It’s either the media, the players or GMs that vote (depending on the award) and you hear from time to time about agents campaigning on behalf of their players for this award or that award.
that’s such a derogatory way of looking at things. sure its a bit up to interpretation who an award like this can be given to, but to say no award not based directly on a certain number or equation is worth anything is just a pessimistic look on things.
What trophies or awards have you earned?
Well deserved. Probably got robbed a year or back as well.