Patrice Bergeron Joins David Backes, Pavel Datsyuk on List of Selke Trophy Finalists

by Ricky Doyle on Mon, Apr 23, 2012 at 11:29AM

Patrice Bergeron's contributions to the Bruins consistently go beyond the stat sheet, and he's finally receiving the credit he deserves.

The Bruins center is among three finalists for this year's Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the forward "who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game."

Bergeron is joined on the list of finalists by David Backes of the St. Louis Blues and Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. The winner, which will be announced at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas on June 20, is selected by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

Bergeron won 59.3 percent of the draws he took this year, which was good for the second-best percentage in the NHL behind Jonathan Toews' 59.4 percent. The Bruins forward won 973 faceoffs in total and his plus-36 rating was tops in the NHL.

Vancouver's Ryan Kesler took home Selke honors last season, while Datsyuk won the award the three seasons prior.

This is the first time in Bergeron's eight-year career that he's been nominated for the Selke Trophy, but it may not be the last, as he just seems to keep getting better at age 26.