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FutureKesler
Rookie
Canada
122 Posts |
 Posted - 03/16/2011 : 07:11:55
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After two straight years of being a nominee will Ryan Kesler finally beat Datsyuk for the award. This year he really does deserve it
Kesler is the TRUE Nucks Captain.
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Awesome One
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
505 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:05:53
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Yes Kesler should definitly win.
OH MY GOD, I JUST SUPPORTED VANCOUVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There was once a license plate in Toronto that abbreviated "Go Leafs" it read "Golfs". |
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ryan93
PickupHockey Pro
Canada
996 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:07:51
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| I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonathan Toews get some votes this year as well. |
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Guest6144
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Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:10:29
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| How about a dark horse in Patrice Bergeron. A very under-rated player. |
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Alex116
PickupHockey Legend
6113 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 08:52:01
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| Toews and Bergeron should both be "in the conversation"! However, i find with these awards, they often go to either a guy who's won before, or a guy who's "just missed" or missed a few times. Being that Kesler's been nominated in the past AND is having a darn good year, i think he's due. |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 09:32:49
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I too think Kesler has a very real shot this year, he has been his usual unbelievable self defensively, but his offensive numbers make him a true 2-way threat. Datsyuk has missed some time due to injury, and that will count against him. Toews is the other logical candidate.
IMO it will be a tight race between Kesler and Toews. |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 10:19:14
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I think Toews' play in the past 2 months will give him the award. Chicago was out of the playoffs by a reasonable amount until Toews picked up him game and took them to the next level on all areas of the ice. Toews has more points, a better +/-, playing in fewer games(at least to this point) and on a statistically lesser defensive team.
Kesler, although still strong, did tail through much of Jan and Feb.
Although I wouldn't argue if Kesler did win, I would say Toews(again, to this point) has had ever bit as good of a season or better. |
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n/a
deleted
4809 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 10:43:23
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I'd pick Toews ahead of Kesler, no disrespect to him. It's close though, and might depend on the last few weeks.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
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nuxfan
PickupHockey All-Star
3670 Posts |
Posted - 03/16/2011 : 11:57:04
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quote:
Toews has more points, a better +/-, playing in fewer games(at least to this point) and on a statistically lesser defensive team.
The Selke trophy is given to the best defensive forward, not the best forward that also plays well defensively. Defensive capabilities come first for this award.
One might argue that Kesler goes a long way to making Vancouver a better defensive team than Chicago. VAN has allowed 30 less goals than VAN, and have been one of the best defensive teams in the league this year - they trail only NSH and BOS in team GA.
They also have the second best PK% in the NHL and have allowed the fewest total number of PPG against - a PK on which Kesler features prominently as the #1 forward. Kesler is 14th in the NHL for TOI while SH, and 20th in TOI while SH per game. Toews is not very high in the former (due to injuries), but is only 50th in the latter.
In regards to some other stats:
- both are equal in TOI per goal allowed, at 20:39
- Toews is better at even strength TOI per goal, with 15:30. Kesler is at 14:30.
- Toews is +25, Kesler is +21
- both are nearly equal for faceoff%, with Toews holding a .3% lead.
In summary, I think its a close race between them, and could go either way. Toews has been great in getting CHI back into form these past couple of months, but in regards to Kesler "slumping" thru Jan and Feb - he has only been slumping on the scoresheet. His defensive game has been stellar all year long. |
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Guest8623
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Posted - 03/17/2011 : 05:38:53
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| Plekanec should be considered, maybe not nominated, but top 10 I think. Kills penalties, top scorer on his team, a player in the +, good at shutting down the opposition. And that on a team with a few AHL'ers/or 6th defensemen on defense due to injuries. |
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Beans15
Moderator
Canada
8286 Posts |
Posted - 03/17/2011 : 07:06:19
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Nux, the award is defined as the best defensive forward, but if you look back on the past 15ish seasons and look at the list of player, it's really not. The Selke winner is often a stand-out player on both end of the ice. Gone are the days when Guy Carbonneau and his 20ish points a year win the Selke. Without doing the reseach I would suggest there hasn't been a Selke winner with less than 40-50 points in the past decade.
Much like the Norris is defined as the best defensemen but is often give to the highest scoring defensemen or the Hart is defined at the best player on a team but is often given to the top scoerer. The Selke(based on the winners and nominees) is a two way forward award and not a defensive award.
Do you think Kesler or Toews would even be nominated if they were 20 point players like Carbo was???? Not a chance. |
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Frank J Selke Trophy 
