The NHL has announced that Florida Panthers heart Aleksander Barkov is the winner of the 2024-25 Frank J. Selke Trophy and King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
The Selke Trophy is awarded yearly to the ahead who displays one of the best defensive acumen. The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is awarded to the participant who greatest exemplifies management qualities on and off of the ice. That is the third time that Barkov has gained the Selke, and the primary time he has gained the King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
Full voting outcomes can be found here, courtesy of The Athletic’s Chris Johnston.
Barkov joins prestigious firm together with his third Selke win. He now sits alongside NHL stars Pavel Datsyuk, Guy Carbonneau and Jere Lehtinen as the one gamers to have gained the award three completely different occasions. Solely two gamers rank above the quartet — legendary Bruins centerman Patrice Bergeron with six wins and former Montreal Canadiens captain Bob Gainey with 4 wins.
Barkov’s place amongst greats is actually becoming. He has constructed a powerful repute as a tireless employee — with the tempo to win puck battles; the energy to win bodily battles; and the tenacity to power opportune turnovers. Barkov posted the fourth-best xGA/60 (anticipated goals-against per 60-minutes) amongst all forwards with not less than 850 minutes of ice time this season, per Evolving Hockey.
Of notice, no gamers forward of him crammed such a distinguished top-end function for his or her membership. In actual fact, Barkov’s 1.93 xGA/60 this season was far-and-away a career-best — trumping his earlier best-mark of 1.97 set within the 2014-15 season.
It’s Barkov’s tenacity, drive and skill to shutdown opponents that earned him each the Selke Trophy and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. He embodied a lead-by-example fashion and has carried Florida to new heights in consequence. The staff has developed into a real modern-day dynasty, slated to seem of their third-consecutive Stanley Cup Last starting this week. Florida misplaced in its first look, however managed to defeat the Edmonton Oilers to win the primary Cup in franchise historical past final season.
The Conn Smythe Trophy for 2024 playoff MVP controversially went to Oilers famous person Connor McDavid, although Barkov was the second-place vote on 15 of the 17 ballots.
Apparently, the 2024-25 season may even mark the primary time in Selke Trophy historical past that teammates will end as the highest two finalists, with winger Sam Reinhart rating second behind Barkov. Reinhart was one of many solely gamers to submit a greater xGA/60 than Barkov this season, although their marks are solely separated by 0.01. Reinhart completed fourth in Selke voting final season. The pair of Panthers end forward of Florida compatriot and Tampa Bay Lightning ahead Anthony Cirelli.
