Aleksander Barkov has won the Selke Trophy and the King Clancy Trophy. The Selke Trophy is given to the best defensive forward in the NHL. Barkov has won the award two years in a row, and it’s his third time winning the Selke in the last five years. The King Clancy Trophy is given to the player who reflects leadership qualities on and off the ice.
Aleksander Barkov has been consistent for the Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov has been one of the more consistent forwards on the defensive side of the ice for the past five seasons. Pair that with being the captain of the Florida Panthers. It should come as no surprise that he won both of these awards. The Panthers have advanced to three straight Stanley Cup Finals, a rare and impressive feat in the NHL today.
Barkov won the Selke by collecting an astounding 96 first-place votes. The runner-up was Barkov’s teammate, Sam Reinhart, who received 29 first-place votes. Having two players who finished in first and second place for best defensive forward is a fantastic feat and one of the reasons why Florida will play in its third straight Stanley Cup Final.
Barkov has Joined Some Elite Company
Aleksander Barkov joined Patrice Bergeron, Bob Gainey, Pavel Datsyuk, Guy Carbonneau, and Jere Lehtinen as players who have won the Selke Trophy three times or more. There are some great names on that list, and it proves that sustaining an elite level of defensive play in the NHL is a hard thing to do. The game is physically taxing on the body, requiring significant preparation for each game.
Final Thoughts
Players like Patrice Bergeron, who has a profile similar to Barkov’s, were solid offensively while playing elite defense, just like Barkov does. Barkov had 71 points in 67 games last season, which is a notable production for a player known for his defensive prowess. If Florida wins another Stanley Cup, Barkov could start to enter the future Hall of Fame conversation. Being an elite all-around player in the NHL will garner your attention. Many players are elite in one area of the game but lack in others. Barkov can do it all, and now he’s looking to be a repeat Stanley Cup Champion.
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