LAS VEGAS (AP) — Boston’s Patrice Bergeron has won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward.
Bergeron won the trophy at the NHL Awards ceremony on Wednesday night.
The 2011 Stanley Cup champion beat out St. Louis captain David Backes and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk, a three-time Selke winner.
Bergeron had 22 goals and 42 assists for the Bruins while racking up a plus-36 rating as a dominant two-way player. Bergeron and Norris Trophy nominee Zdeno Chara formed the backbone of the Bruins’ defensive efforts in front of Tim Thomas.
Datsyuk won the award from 2008-10, and Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler won it last year.
Bergeron and Backes had never been nominated for the Selke.
