NEW YORK (AP) — Detroit star Pavel Datsyuk has been nominated for the Selke Trophy, joining fellow finalists Ryan Kesler of Vancouver and Jordan Staal of Pittsburgh for the award given to the NHL’s top defensive forward.
The Red Wings star has won the trophy the last two years, beating out Kesler in 2009. Datsyuk led the league in takeaways with 132 this season and finished with a plus-17 rating.
Kesler averaged a career-high 19:37 in ice time for the Canucks and was an integral part of the team’s penalty kill this season. Staal received his first Selke nomination after finishing second in the league in short-handed minutes.
The winner will be announced June 23 during the NHL awards show in Las Vegas.
