Barkov, Matthews and Staal named finalists for the 2024 Selke Trophy

Three of the best two-way forwards in the game are being honored.

On Sunday, the NHL announced Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers), Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), and Jordan Staal (Carolina Hurricanes) as the finalists for the 2024 Frank J. Selke Trophy for best defensive forward.

Barkov was a huge part of the Panthers winning the Atlantic Division title for the second time in three seasons. Along with scoring 80 points in 73 games, the 28-year-old posted a plus-minus rating of +33, good for fifth among NHL forwards. He also took 1,100 faceoffs, which led Florida during the regular season, and was ninth in the league in faceoff win percentage (57.3%). The Panthers ended up tied for first in team goals-against average (2.41) during the regular season.

Barkov is the only one of three to have earned the award. The Panthers’ captain won the Selke in 2021, and was a finalist again in the 2021-22 season.

Matthews is in line for even more hardware this year. After claiming the Rocket Richard Trophy for the third time in four seasons with 69 goals, the Maple Leafs star showed his defensive prowess backs up his scoring touch. Matthews was second in the league in takeaways among forwards (85) and tied for second in blocked shots (93). The 26-year-old was seventh in plus-minute (+31) and was fifth in even-strength ice time (1,346:28).

The Arizona native is trying to become the first Leaf to win the Selke since Doug Gilmour earned the honor in 1993. Matthews is also a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.

Staal has been a workhorse this season for the Hurricanes, especially on special teams. The one-time Stanley Cup Champion led the team in shorthanded ice time (168:58), helping Carolina post the league’s best penalty kill during the regular season (86.4%). The 35-year-old scored 10 goals and 30 points in 80 games, winning 58.1% of the 1,375 faceoffs he took.

This is the second time Staal has been named a finalist for the Selke. The first time came when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins, finishing third in voting in 2010. The Thunder Bay native hopes to become the second Hurricane to win the award, as current Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour won the Selke in 2006 and 2007.

Former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron won the Selke for a record sixth and final time last year.