Frank J. Selke Trophy Preview - 06-23-10

We are previewing the seven NHL awards which count this week. (Sorry Lady Byng fans.) This morning, we'll preview the Frank J. Selke Trophy which goes to the NHL's top defensive forward.

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Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (27 goals, 43 assists, 70 points, plus-17)

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Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks (25 goals, 50 assists, 75 points, plus-1)

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Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins (21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points, plus-19)

Who we'd vote for: Kesler. His checking abilities seal the deal for us. Datsyuk and Staal are obviously among the best defensive forwards in the game, but Kesler's is a much better forechecker than either of those two. And when you consider his faceoff winning percentage (55.1 percent) is among the best in the league, Kesler is the prototypical penalty killing forward.  There's a reason the Canucks tend to put him on the ice late in games when they're ahead by narrow margains.

Who will win: Datsyuk. This award seems like a Gold Glove in Major League Baseball. You can only win it if you've won it before. If that makes sense. Datsyuk has walked away with this trophy the past two seasons and we fully expect him to do it again. Jordan Staal's cruddy faceoff winning percentage (47.8%) and the fact that Kesler plays on the West Coast will hurt their cases.