This years Frank J. Selke Trophy finalists have been announced. The Selke is awarded to the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game. It has been awarded 34 times, but only to 22 different players. This years finalists are no strangers to being nominated for this award. They are Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins), Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings), and Jonathan Toews (Chicago Blackhawks). Bergern has won this award one time before (2012), Datsyuk has won this honor three times (2008, 2009,2010), and Toews  has been nominated once before. The Selke winner is selected by Professional Hockey Writers Association.

All three of this years finalists are  still playing for the Staney Cup. That fact alone proves that a defensive forward is a big part of a Stanley Cup team.

Pavel Datsuk is up for his fourth Selke Trophy
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Something to think about

Bergeron and Steve Kasper (1982) are the only Bruins to win the Selke. Bergeron also would become the sixth player to win it in consecutive years (NHL.com). This year Bergeron posted a team-best plus-24 rating, which was sixth-best in the League.

Datsyuk, 34, was a point-per-game scorer while managing a plus-21 rating, and he accomplished it averaging 20:10 in ice time per game (NHL.com). If Datsyuk wins this Selke this year it would be his fourth Trophy.  A victory this year would tie him with Bob Gainey of the Canadiens who won the first four Selke’s (1978-1981)

Toews was third among the team’s forwards in shorthanded ice time at 1:25 per game and was second among the team’s forwards in average ice time at 19:20 per game. He tied Datsyuk for the League lead with 56 takeaways, and not only was his plus-28 third in the League, his plus-21 on the road was a League high. NHL.com)

Prediction

I think this year award will most likely go to Datsyuk.  The 36-year-old has been one of the best defensive forwards to ever play the game. He is a +229 for his career, and has 767 points in 779 games. Who do you think will win?

Okay, now that we have that out of the way, lets talk odds.  With Round two of the Playoffs started Las Vegas has updated their odds on who is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. There is no shocker here. Vegas says that The Pittsburgh Penguins are still the favorite followed by the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks. There is no real jump in the odds until you get to the number five bet. The Los Angeles Kings are 20/1 odds. Here’s the list (vegasinsider.com).

Current Odds of winning the Cup.

Pittsburgh Penguins 5/2

Chicago Blackhawks 7/2

San Jose Sharks 7/1

Boston Bruins 12/1

Los Angeles Kings 20/1

Ottawa Senators 20/1

Detroit Red Wings 40/1

New York Rangers 40/1

Place your bets, But remember Vegas is not always right. In fact the public doesn’t agree with the odds. According to thespread.com the American betting public is picking the Ranger to win the cup (71%) while second best chances are the Chicago Blackhawks (69%). The way the Playoffs have been going I wouldn’t bet on any team. At this point of the year all it takes is a funny bounce to break someone’s heart.  My advice; just sit back and enjoy NHL Playoff hockey. There is no need to spend your money. Wave your flag, wear your colors, and jump up and down for your team. As long as you are enjoying the playoffs the numbers do not matter.

However, for those people who need to see picks, here’s what I think. I do feel that we could be looking at a Penguins vs. Blackhawks final. That is not what I want to see, honestly I think that if that does happen it will be an over hyped series. Out of the the eight teams left  I believe that a Sharks vs. Bruins series would be the best for entertainment value. It would be a good mix of the faster skating West vs. the hard hitting East.  It is highly unlikely to happen, but a guy can dream.  As long as there is hockey being played I’ll be happy.

Whats is your pick for the Stanley Cup Finals match-up? Leave your thoughts on our Facebook page, twitter, or just comment below.

Three key defensemen in Wade Redden, Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg are on the shelf and according to Dan Rosen from NHL.com, all three are doubtful for tonight’s opener.

Redden is out with an undisclosed injury (if you can imagine that) the same as Seidenberg.  You can tell it’s playoff time when no team will disclose even a hint of what the injury is.  Ference is out with an apparent lower-body injury however Rosen reports that the 31-year old has been spotted with a walking boot.

Neither of the three blue liners practiced Wednesday writes Rosen leaving their availability for Game 1 as highly doubtful.

The hole leaves the Bruins with three rookies in their lineup for the opener.  Matt Bartkowski, Torrey Krug and Dougie Hamilton are the likely candidates to get the  nod when the puck drops at 7:30 pm ET at the TD Garden Centre.  Both Bartkowski and Hamilton played in the epic Game 7 that saw the Bruins come back and shock the Toronto Maple Leafs while Krug was recalled from the Providence Bruins of the AHL.

Head coach Claude Julien did his part of sticking to the playoff script by throwing the notion that sometimes it’s better for players to “just play” rather than practice with an injury.  Again, it’s the playoffs and speculation and leaving everyone outside of the organization guessing are what coaches do best at this time of year.

For what it’s worth, Rosen reports that Julien had each of the three rookies paired with a veteran defenseman during Wednesday’s practice.