Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Cirelli, and Sam Reinhart shine as Selke Trophy finalists
Although goal scoring may be the unrelenting focus of interest, the tradition of backchecking by forwards should not be lost in attention. The three players this season who have gone farthest in the way of offensive contribution and defensive diligence are
Aleksander Barkov
,
Anthony Cirelli
, and
Sam Reinhart
. Each of them has shown commitment to stopping the other team with faceoffs, penalty killing, and transitioning. Their two-way performance has kept them on the list of finalists for the coveted Frank J. Selke Trophy.
Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart head the Florida Panthers' defense line
The captain of the Florida Panthers, Aleksander Barkov, has proven time and again to be among the best two-way centers in the NHL. Barkov's combination of size, awareness, and intelligent positioning all had him swinging elite defensive numbers throughout the 2024-25 season with evidence of consistent puck control, crucial faceoff wins, and a heavy presence on both special teams. Having won both awards before, Barkov's leadership and well-rounded play helped propel Florida to its sixth consecutive postseason.
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Reinhart, who was originally tagged as a pure offensive player, has now grown into a complete player. For as much as he may light up the goal or point charts for the team, Reinhart can also be counted upon as he was in those situations where a player would dive in front of a shot or break up a play on a penalty kill. His versatility becomes even more evident in pressure-packed situations when he must switch from forward play to defense in protecting a slim lead.
Anthony Cirelli earns long-awaited recognition for defensive prowess
While some stars of the Lightning often steal the spotlight, Anthony Cirelli has become one of the most unsung yet reliable defensive forwards in the entire league. A master of positioning and discipline, Cirelli has been front and center in the Lightning's effective penalty kill unit and in their overall defensive structure. Cirelli's presence against tough matchups and puck battles was a factor in Tampa reaching the postseason for the eighth consecutive year. For Cirelli, this is his first official Selke finalist appearance, a recognition many feel has been long in coming.
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"Always done a good job": Connor McDavid sends subtle message to Oilers management ahead of NHL trade deadline
All three—Aleksander Barkov, Anthony Cirelli, and Sam Reinhart—are representatives of the modern NHL forward: offensively talented but defensively aware. As the league awaits the announcement of the Selke winner, these finalists have already shown that real greatness is about being commanding on both sides of the ice.
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