Selke Trophy

[furlanitalia 1]

I guess you could argue that's a great defensive play. All in all a pretty goal though.

[kosydar 0]

Dominic Moore 10g 18 a 28 p -3 43pim

Manny Malhotra 14-19-33 +17 41 pim

Sammy Pahlson 3-13-16 -9 32 pim

Mike Grier 10g 12a 22 -4 14p

J Staal 21-28-49 +19 57pim

I'd take Staal any day of the week. More offensive upside and centers what is arguably the best third line in the league, which happens to be the Pens shut down line. To me he embodies the award perfectly. As a forward your expect to put up some point production, which he does, and his play and good +/- speak for themselves and his defensive game. His high TOI on the PK is also big. I mean damn, 3 of the guys arn't even plus players and only one of them is even close in points. Fisher, 53 points and +1 is certainly some production and okay defensively, and i'm sure was in consideration; He and Staal were both also considered for the same type of role for Team Canada this year as well. Fishers poor finish to the season probably hurt him.

So you completely missed my point, but thats okay. You're avatar sums up why you think he should win.

And one more comment before I'm done on this subject. Look at who is #3 in +/- this year in the league, then tell me if you think that stat tells how well someone plays defense.

[JohnnyCanuck 0]

Speaking of stats... here's one that might just make it go Keslers way... if the journo's get lazy and need to look at stats to make up their minds (away from the +/-)

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fet...rtssPlayerStats

Keslers turnover to takeaway ration is sick, and his faceoff numbers blow away Datsyuks, in as much as he had to take 25% more of them... his blocked shots and hits are higher too.

to top it all off, Keslers SHToi avg per game is over 2 and a half minutes whereas Datysuks isn't even at a minute, therefore he is not killing penalties, and thus not considered the best defensive player on his team, nevermind the league...

food for thought if you are anti-Staal for the award.

[Rustpot 1]

Speaking of stats... here's one that might just make it go Keslers way... if the journo's get lazy and need to look at stats to make up their minds (away from the +/-)

http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fet...rtssPlayerStats

Keslers turnover to takeaway ration is sick, and his faceoff numbers blow away Datsyuks, in as much as he had to take 25% more of them... his blocked shots and hits are higher too.

to top it all off, Keslers SHToi avg per game is over 2 and a half minutes whereas Datysuks isn't even at a minute, therefore he is not killing penalties, and thus not considered the best defensive player on his team, nevermind the league...

food for thought if you are anti-Staal for the award.

Detroit is the 2nd least penalized team, Pittsburgh and Vancouver are nearer to the most. Less penalties is less short handed shifts.

Kesler and Staal are also in the top 25 penalized centers. With Datsyuk ranked more than 100 players lower.

Staal is above Datsyuk in overall +/- by 2 with Kesler trailing

Kesler is listed BELOW Datsyuk in Faceoff Leaders, so I'm not sure how his numbers blow away Datsyuk's unless you're talking short handed alone in which Datsyuk is 48% and Kesler is 49% (not exactly a blowout).

Not trying to homer for Datsyuk, just showing that there are stats in favor for each player.

Maybe these 3 players were chosen for their play in different areas, as none of them are clearly out on the ice to be third defensemen.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

So you completely missed my point, but thats okay. You're avatar sums up why you think he should win.

And one more comment before I'm done on this subject. Look at who is #3 in +/- this year in the league, then tell me if you think that stat tells how well someone plays defense.

I even said in my Original post I think kessler should win it. Nice try with that. You said staal shouldn't be nominated basically citing his name and draft number as the only reason he was nominated. I provided tangible evidence as to why his year was better than four out of the five other players you named. Add his stats and the way he's played in big moments and how well he's done and that's why he is nominated. No it's not all about the stats but they do play a part in it obviously.

It's forward who excels defensively. They're looking for some type of offensive production. There is not that many guys with decent points that are called upon to shutdown oppositions top line and succeed at it.

[vek 0]

I think Staal will have to be traded before anyone recognizes how good he really is.

[IniNew 53]

I think Staal will have to be traded before anyone recognizes how good he really is.

Did you watch the Pen's game tonight? I can not count on two hands how man times the announcers said not having Staal in the lineup was killing the entire Pens team.

[vek 0]

Did you watch the Pen's game tonight? I can not count on two hands how man times the announcers said not having Staal in the lineup was killing the entire Pens team.

No question, but I was really referring to his place on the pecking order on the team. I'll bet there's at least 5 teams right now that would be more than willing to pay him $7M on a long term deal and install him as their #1 center.

A Selke is great, but I think that's more a function of the role he's limited to on the Pens.

[GuitarAwesome 1]

I don't know if I team would pay that much just for "potential". Staal is a good one, no doubt, but I gotta give this one to Dats this year. His takeaway ratio is, as usual, insane, and the guy is insane defensively. I'm not sure what Kesler is doing there, yes, he's good, but I think he barely cracks the top 5 (M. Koivu, M. Richards, Zajac)

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

yeaaaa... not sure about the 7mill range. He's good no doubt, but until he proves he can produce as a num 1 or 2 centre I don't think he'll get quite that much money.

No question, but I was really referring to his place on the pecking order on the team. I'll bet there's at least 5 teams right now that would be more than willing to pay him $7M on a long term deal and install him as their #1 center.

A Selke is great, but I think that's more a function of the role he's limited to on the Pens.

[Chadd 916]

yeaaaa... not sure about the 7mill range. He's good no doubt, but until he proves he can produce as a num 1 or 2 centre I don't think he'll get quite that much money.

I agree with you, but I think he could walk into at least half a dozen NHL locker rooms and be the number one center tomorrow.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

But due to a lack of talent on the team, not necessary Staals performance.

I agree with you, but I think he could walk into at least half a dozen NHL locker rooms and be the number one center tomorrow.