Barkov, Matthews, Staal named Selke Trophy finalists
Panthers, Maple Leafs, Hurricanes centers up for award given to best defensive forward
www.nhl.comHere’s the latest on the Selke Trophy (as of 2026):
- The Frank J. Selke Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top defensive forward, with voting by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Bergeron, Barkov, Matthews, Staal, and other top two-way forwards have been frequent finalists in recent years.[2][4][8]
- Recent winners include Patrice Bergeron (retired after 2022-23) and, in 2024-25, another standout two-way forward (winner announced by the league; Bergeron previously dominated this award).[4][8]
- In the 2023-24 season, finalists were Aleksander Barkov, Auston Matthews, and Jordan Staal, highlighting the shift toward strong two-way centers in Florida, Toronto, and Carolina.[4]
- For 2025-26 coverage, outlets continued to evaluate candidates who excel defensively while contributing at the other end, with lists often including Barkov, Reinhart, Cirelli, Marner, Aho, Suzuki, and others depending on the season’s performance.[5][7]
Illustrative note: the Selke race tends to hinge on defensive impact (takeaways, defensive zone wins, shot suppression) combined with possession metrics and team context, making it a balance between traditional eye tests and advanced stats.[7][4]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact finalists and winner from the latest official NHL announcement or a reputable outlet and summarize the key stats and reasons cited for the winner.