The Selke Trophy recognizes the NHL's top defensive forward, and this year's finalists were Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins, Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils, and Mitch Marner of the Toronto Maple Leafs. However, some fans and analysts were surprised that Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl did not make the list.
Despite not being known for his defensive play like some of the other nominees, Draisaitl is a solid and dependable player in his own zone. Despite finishing the season with only a plus-7 rating, he played almost 22 minutes per game and was often assigned to shut down the top lines of opposing teams.
Moreover, Draisaitl excelled in the faceoff circle, finishing the season ranked ninth in the league for faceoff percentage. His ability to win critical faceoffs enabled the Oilers to control possession and limit their opponents' scoring chances.
While Bergeron, Hischier, and Marner are all deserving candidates, Draisaitl's defensive contributions should not be ignored. Hopefully, in the upcoming seasons, he will receive more recognition for his excellent two-way play.
