Bergeron Named Finalist For Selke Award
BOSTON (CBS) - For the second time in his career, Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron has been named one of three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy.
Bergeron is joined by Pavel Datsyuk of Detroit and Jonathan Toews from Chicago as finalists for the award, given annually "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."
When asked about being a finalist on Wednesday, Bergeron was honored but admitted his focus is more on the upcoming playoff series against the New York Rangers -- which gets underway Thursday night at the TD Garden.
"It's a nice honor just to be nominated with these two guys, who are great players. Just to be part of it is great, but at the same time there are a lot more things to be worried about. We have a game tomorrow, so that's all I need to focus on right now," said Bergeron.
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Bergeron finished the 2013 regular season leading all NHL players in faceoff percentage, winning 62.1-percent of the time he took the drop. He finished sixth in the NHL with a plus/minus at +24 despite often playing against the opposition's top lines. He logged 153:37 on the penalty kill, serving as the primary forward on the B's PK unit, which finished fourth in the NHL with an 87.1-percent proficiency.
On offense, Bergeron finished the regular season with 32 points in 42 games, tied for fourth on the Bruins, tallying 22 assists (second on the team) to go with 10 goals.
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Bergeron won the Selke Trophy for the first time in his nine-year career for the 2011-12 season.
Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.
