Canes Country Members' Choice Awards: The Selke
by Carolyn Christians on Apr 18, 2010 11:04 AM EDT
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While the Carolina Hurricanes 2009-10 NHL season fell short of the expectations we brought to the table back in October, that doesn’t meant there weren’t many bright spots for the players and fans this season. Canes Country thought we’d look back at some individuals whose performances were exemplary, and whose efforts and skill inspired us to keep watching. Using the traditional team and annual NHL Awards as a guide, Cory, Bob and I have each nominated a player from the Carolina roster for nine of these awards. Over the course of this week we have been asking you, our insightful readers, to vote for and tell us why you think one Hurricane player deserves our recognition for a job well done.
The Frank Selke Trophy
What is it?
The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
The Selke Trophy was presented to the National Hockey League in 1977 by the Board of Governors of the NHL in honor of Frank J. Selke (read his bio here), one of the great architects of NHL championship teams. Who received the Selke over the last 3 years? 2008, 2009: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings 2007: Rod Brind`Amour, Carolina Hurricanes (making two years in a row) Carolina Hurricanes Assistant Head Coach Ron Francis also won this award in 1995. After the jump Bob, Cory and Hockeymom each make their nominations and tell why.
And the nominees are:
Bob nominates: Eric Staal
Some Staal critics are probably about to laugh at this nomination, but before you laugh, check out the stats. Staal has the best plus/minus of any other forward on the team. (Tied with Kostopoulos). He also leads all forwards on the team with the most average time on the ice.
He faces the best competition in the league, night after night and he's called on to play in all situations, the PP, PK, and even strength. The stats don't lie, he is doing something right. He's just as deserving as anyone else on the team this season.
Cory Lavalette nominates: Brandon Sutter
I mentioned in an earlier post that Sutter was emerging as the next Brind'Amour. How so? Well, he leads by example, contributes offensively and plays a smart game. Furthermore, he's solid in the faceoff circle and wise beyond his years in his own end. Sounds a lot like Brind'Amour in his prime, right? Those kinds of attributes earned No. 17 two Selke awards, and Sutter's ability to contribute in all three zones has him on his way to a future Selke.
Not only has Sutter made himself difficult to play against, but he's done so without taking penalties (two all season). His smarts, poise and determination are what Selke winners are made of. It won't be long before Sutter is vying for an NHL-wide Selke.
Brandon Sutter watches intently for the puck to drop, with the Stars' Mike Modano (Photo by LTD)
Hockeymomof2 nominates: Tom Kostopoulos
To be honest, Kostopoulos was not the first name that came to mind for recognition for this award. Until I started looking at the stats. TommyK was the go-to defensive forward for the Hurricanes this year. For the season, Kostopoulos lead the Hurricanes in Penalty Kill Time on Ice, with 53 minutes more than Brandon Sutter, and averaging more than 2 minutes per game. (BTW - he played all 82 games, thank you very much). He lead the team in plus/minus at +4. He put up the most hits among forwards and blocked the most shots. The MOST. And those 2 short-handed goals plus an assist on Cullen's shortie? Also the top-of the-list for Short-handed scoring. Sure he took some penalties himself - including the 10 fighting majors - were those good or bad for the team's efforts to win? For the most part, I'd say they were okay. (And he had one less minor penalty than Eric Staal.) We heard his thoughts about dropping the gloves when Bob spoke to him last week.
Sometimes you try to do different things to help give your team an edge in the game. For me, a lot of the fights I don’t end up winning, it’s more about showing up. It’s about showing your team that you’re willing to do it and just trying to give them a jump. You know, if I could score 50 goals, I probably wouldn’t be fighting. (laughs), but you just try to help your team out anyway you can.
If we're looking for a place to recognize the impressive numbers Kostopoulos put up for the Hurricanes this season, this discussion on the Selke would no doubt be the best place to start.
Finally, if you'd like to look back on the previous award posts from this week and see the results and/or vote (polls are still open) here are those links:
The Chiasson, The Vezina, The Calder, The Lady Byng, The Masterton , The Norris
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HM makes an excellent case for TKO, as does Bob for Staal. But I looked at which player best embodies the defensive forward mentality and which player is the most like Roddy when he won the Selke. That player is Sutter.
Add in the fact that the other two nominees have been playing the game at this level a lot longer than he has and that he was often given the task of shutting down the opposing team’s top line and is still just a -1? Yeah it’s got to be Sutter.
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
I agree 100%. As much as I love Staal (and you know I do CG), he is not Selke material. His defensive game is pretty good at times, but that is not his strong suit. I really believe that Sutter will win the NHL Selke at least once in his career, possibly more. Sutter in a close one over TK this year and probably hands down for years to come.
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by PackPride17 on Apr 18, 2010 11:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You love Staal? Really? I had no idea. ;) All kidding aside, I’m with you that Sutter could truly win the NHL Selke at some point in his career.
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
Let me add this about PIM’s and the “2 Minute Man.”. When I played basketball (different sport I know), I had a coach that told be committing fouls is not always a bad thing. There are two different types of fouls; the lazy ones and the hard working ones. He had no problem with me committing the hard working fouls because it showed I was doing part of my job and competing. He would rather see me work hard and commit a foul because I was trying to make a play than just watch and wait until we are on offense. It really stuck with me and I became quite good at being able to steal the ball. That in turn led to easy offensive opportunities for me. It got to the point that I was not only the team’s top 1 or 2 scorer, but I would usually draw the other teams best offensive player (other than the center).
in other words, if Sutter gets more penalties called against him; I have no problem with that as long as they are good aggressive penalties. In hockey, we see a lot of stupid mistakes, it is refreshing to see someone play smart while still playing responsible.
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Apr 18, 2010 12:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Some Tom Kostopoulos love
I’m pretty sure I’m going to be voting for Sutter, but before I even start to think about who deserves the award, HM2’s ode to Tom Kostopoulos struck a responsive chord in my fandom:
Tom Kostopoulos
Coincidental that we have a Kostopoulos-related Fans Want to Know thread initiated today, but I was intent on giving Tom some love this morning before that thread ever began.
Here’s a guy that has quietly come in and (no jinx) is the only player on the roster to have skated all 80 games to date.
In addition, he’s among a small group of only 3 players on the roster that was with us on Opening Night that has a positive plus/minus at +4 (Staal also at +4 and Jokinen at +5 being the other two), despite being relegated to the "Group W" fourth line for much of the season.
He’s sandwiched at ninth between LaRose and Brind’Amour for points (8-12-20) and is also ninth for shots on goal (100).
And, although I’m not sure I’ve seen him "win" a fight, he’s always ready to do that honorable thing for the team and take one when needed, leading the team with 106 PIM’s (next is Gleason with 78 PIM’s).
And we got all of this performance for a mere $700K this season, with him being under contract for two more years ($0.95M / $1.1M).
Good pickup, JR. Welcome to the Canes, Mr. Kostopoulos (and, at least we’ve learned to spell your name correctly :-D).
by Elsker on Apr 7, 2010 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Great pickup, JR, not just “good”. Great.
i too say as a team
- wins hands down…but as for and in the NHL…give him another year or 2 the guy will be in the runnig for the Selke..and i also thnk that in that time frame he could also very well be waring an “A” on his jesery for real…let us not forget that while we fans and the coaching staff have high expectations for him…but we all have heard he is his own hardest critic…while he does great he wants to do and be even beter…and the great thing is that many of the current rat players who did a stint with the canes…have all the same traits and work ethics…now and while many of us here were very excited about opening day this past october(09) but if anything and seeing we now know for sure ( except for what players will make the roster ) short of everyone dying the canes have a better chance to start off in positive territory since the year the canes won the cup…now i am not going to sit here and blow fart blossumscand all of that…but even now & on paper…what there is on the bench for the canes & the rats, even without the up coming draft…the canes as a team is sitting better than many theams wil be or are …if you follow my drift…Caniac Steve waves and rolls off and has to go and get hislap top out and get everything set up as between a possible nascar or indy car race,playoff games & the rats being on…I’ll be flipping back & forth on the tube and making sure my earbuds are in good & tight listening to the rats game…man i’m tired already…sigh…too much excitment…:-D Go Rats !!
" Chadness" is contagious ! Go Canes !!
The “2 Minute Man.”
Triple Gold Juice - It's Potent and Guaranteed to Help You Score!
by PackPride17 on Apr 18, 2010 1:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Staal for the Selke, yea Bob, you are right, that made me laugh. Thanks I needed a laugh.
Staals an expert in the O-zone and can find his way around the Neutral zone, he doesn’t even know where the D zone is. Doesn’t have to. His job is at the other end.
It’s a little disrespectful to Sutter, who was needed to fill in the defensive role. Sutter was scoring like gangbusters and then was needed to fall back and help the pathetic D out. Sutter is the definition of a Selke style player. Noticed Lil Chuck was getting better at falliong back too.
Staal…Selke…I’m still grinnin’
A
'09-'10 needed more than a spoonful of sugar, felt like a broken glass and battery acid suppository.
Young hockey players, the future, the answer. Learn it, then live it.
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