Description: First awarded in 1977-78, the Frank J. Selke Trophy is presented annually “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game.”
Voting: Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submit ballots for the Frank J. Selke Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.
History: The Frank J. Selke Trophy was presented in 1977 by the NHL’s Board of Governors in honor of Frank J. Selke, one of the great architects of Montreal’s and Toronto’s championship teams.
2023-24 Winner: Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov captured the 2023‑24 Frank J. Selke Trophy, the second time he has won the award (also 2020‑21).
As the first choice on 165 of the 194 ballots and a top-five pick of 192 voters, Barkov was a runaway winner with 1,817 voting points. Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal, a Selke Trophy finalist for the first time since 2009‑10, finished second in voting with 539 points.
Staal was followed closely by first-time Selke Trophy finalist Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who garnered 514 points for third place. Barkov was a key contributor to the Atlantic Division champion Panthers finishing the season tied for first place in the NHL in goals against per game (2.41, excluding two goals against for shootout losses).
It also marked the lowest such figure in franchise history, topping the 2.44 set in 2015‑16. Barkov took a team-leading 1,100 face-offs and posted a win rate of 57.3 percent, ranking ninth in the NHL (minimum: 50 GP / 500 FO). He placed fifth among NHL forwards in plus/minus with a +33 rating, the second-highest figure of his 11-year NHL career.
The puck was in the offensive zone for 46.3 percent of the time Barkov was on the ice at even strength according to NHL EDGE tracking data, ranking in the 97th percentile among NHL skaters, and in the defensive zone for just 35.3 percent of the time (97th percentile).
