LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks has ended Pavel Datsyuk’s three-year run as the NHL’s best defensive forward.
Kesler topped Detroit’s Datsyuk and Chicago’s Jonathan Toews for the Selke Trophy during a show at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Kesler led the NHL forwards in blocked shots and won more than 57 percent of his faceoffs, a career high.
Datsyuk was trying to match Bob Gainey by winning the Selke in four consecutive years. Montreal’s Gainey took it from 1978-82.
Toews won a league-high 937 faceoffs, nearly 57 percent. He blocked 28 shots and led Chicago forwards with a plus-25 rating.
