The NHL announced the first set of 2022-23 award finalists on Tuesday, beginning with the Selke Trophy and Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
As a first-year member of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, Yahoo Sports was not granted an official ballot this year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get in on the fun.
Stay tuned for updates throughout the week as the nominees are unveiled, culminating with the Hart Trophy on Friday, May 12.
Selke Trophy
Nominees: Patrice Bergeron (Bruins), Mitch Marner (Leafs), Nico Hischier (Devils)
Yahoo Sports’ ballot: Patrice Bergeron, Mitch Marner, Nico Hischier, Jordan Staal, Mikael Backlund
Bergeron is the gold standard for all two-way forwards and he may have posted his single-best all-around campaign of his career at 37, while the Bruins soared above the rest of the league in the regular season.
Among forwards with at least 800 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Bergeron was on the ice for an NHL-low 18 goals against at even strength this season despite having the 10th most defensive zone starts. He also had an NHL-best 61.1 faceoff percentage while taking the second-most draws and played a key role on the Bruins’ league-best penalty kill.
This is Bergeron’s 12th nomination for the award, which he has won an NHL-record five times with the sixth likely being added to his trophy case this summer.
Marner has been a two-way dynamo the entire year and led the NHL in takeaways at 5-on-5 and all situations, headlining Toronto’s penalty kill.
Hischier, Staal and Backlund have been three of the best players at suppressing chances in the NHL. Staal and Bergeron are both top 10 in expected goals against per 60 at 5-on-5, Backlund ranks 28th, Hischier ranks 48th, while Marner ranks 112th, although that doesn’t take into account his penalty-killing excellence or quality of opponents faced.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Nominees: Jack Hughes (Devils), Anze Kopitar (Kings), Brayden Point (Lightning)
NHL Awards finalists announcement schedule
Wednesday, May 3: Calder Memorial Trophy
Thursday, May 4: James Norris Memorial Trophy
Friday, May 5: Jack Adams Award
Tuesday, May 9: Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
Wednesday, May 10: Ted Lindsay Award
Thursday, May 11: Vezina Trophy
Friday, May 12: Hart Memorial Trophy
When are the NHL Awards?
The NHL Awards will take place Monday, June 26 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada, and TNT in the United States.
