Awarded every season to the league’s best defensive forward, many of the best two-way players in recent memory have at least one Selke in their trophy case.
As the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues, fans of teams not in the mix are starting to look ahead to this year’s awards ceremony, with many of today’s stars hoping to add to their accolades following the conclusion of this postseason.
While much of the attention typically surrounds the elite individual awards such as the Hart, Vezina and Norris trophies, several other awards will be handed out in late June, with criteria ranging from sportsmanship to community involvement and overcoming adversity.
When it comes to on-ice accomplishments, one honor that flies under the radar for most players and fans is the Frank J. Selke Trophy, first awarded after the 1977-78 season to the best defensive forward in the league.
The trophy is named after former Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens general manager Frank J. Selke, a nine-time Stanley Cup champion who retired from his role after the 1963-64 season.
Many players who have won the award over its near half-century of existence also served as leaders on their teams while typically snagging top penalty killing assignments, serving as an opportunity to showcase their defensive prowess.
As is the case with several other major NHL awards, a small handful of players have dominated the honor throughout the years, with Boston Bruins icon Patrice Bergeron serving as the prototypical example. Bergeron won the award six times over the course of his 19-year NHL career, holding the record for most wins of the trophy.
Heading into the 2026 NHL awards season, just 17 of the league’s 32 teams have had a player win the trophy since its inception in 1978 – with a handful of players serving as a roadblock for forwards on other clubs over the years.
Below is a look at the teams that have never had a player win the Selke Trophy:
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Ottawa Senators
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- New York Rangers
- Colorado Avalanche
- Minnesota Wild
- Utah Mammoth
- Nashville Predators
- Winnipeg Jets
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Edmonton Oilers
- Anaheim Ducks
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- Calgary Flames
For the clubs that do have at least one Selke win in their franchise history, here’s a look at their last win – beginning with the most recent occurrences:
- Florida Panthers: 2024-25, Aleksander Barkov
- Boston Bruins: 2022-23, Patrice Bergeron
- Philadelphia Flyers: 2019-20, Sean Couturier
- St. Louis Blues: 2018-19, Ryan O’Reilly
- Los Angeles Kings: 2017-18, Anze Kopitar
- Chicago Blackhawks: 2012-13, Jonathan Toews
- Vancouver Canucks: 2010-11, Ryan Kesler
- Detroit Red Wings: 2009-10, Pavel Datsyuk
- Carolina Hurricanes: 2006-07, Rod Brind’Amour
- Dallas Stars: 2002-03, Jere Lehtinen
- New York Islanders: 2001-02, Michael Peca
- New Jersey Devils: 2000-01, John Madden
- Buffalo Sabres: 1996-97, Michael Peca
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 1994-95, Ron Francis
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 1992-93, Doug Gilmour
- Montreal Canadiens: 1991-92, Guy Carbonneau
- Washington Capitals: 1983-84, Doug Jarvis
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