Bruins' Bergeron Named Selke Finalist
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron is one of three finalists for the 2011-12 Frank J. Selke Trophy, the NHL announced Monday.
The Selke Trophy is awarded annually "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."
While Bergeron is honored by being a finalist, he does not take much pride in individual awards.
"I take pride in playing both sides of the rink and doing the little details in helping the team win as much as I can," he said from the TD Garden on Monday. "I'm happy with it, but I don't really believe in individual awards as much as team efforts. I think every time you're nominated for an award like that it's because of your teammates and the help of all of them."
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Believe it or not, this is Bergeron's first time being nominated for the Selke Trophy in his eight year NHL career.
"He should have been nominated way before this year, he's such a reliable guy to have on the ice," Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said Monday. "You can really count on him to get the job done. It's important to have a teammate like that. He is such a tremendous person and a hard worker. There is no question in my mind he should be the winner."
"He's always playing against top lines, and whatever job or task you ask of him, he's going to do that," added Chara. "It's always huge to have somebody play defense first before the offense. Not too many guys take as much pride in it as Bergy does."
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"In my mind, there's no doubt that Patrice deserves this," head coach Claude Julien said Monday. "The way he's played this year, the things he's done to be nominated, how good he's been defensively. He's got two young players on each side of him, he's played against top players all year long and he's the best plus player probably of that group. Faceoff wise, he's been utilized in every situation. Offensively, defensively, key situations – he's done everything to deserve that. To be honest with you, I'd be very disappointed if he didn't win that. That's how I feel."
Bergeron led the NHL in plus/minus this season at +36 and won the most faceoffs in the NHL with 973. His 59.3-percent faceoff win percentage was second best in the NHL.
The 26-year-old Bergeron led the Bruins with 42 assists and finished second on the team in points with 64. He led all B's forwards in time on ice (18:34) and shorthanded time on ice per game (1:48).
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The other finalists for the award are St. Louis's David Backes and Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk.
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 20, during the 2012 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
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