Upcoming Match-ups

2019 Selke Trophy Finalist Odds: O’Reilly Listed As Odds-On Favorite Over Bergeron & Stone

Ryan Sullivan

by Ryan Sullivan in NHL Hockey

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 10:03 AM PDT

Ryan O'Reilly
The St. Louis Blues' Ryan O'Reilly is favored to win this year's Selke Trophy. Photo By: @HeartofNHL (Twitter)
  • Ryan O’Reilly has been listed as the clear-cut favourite for this year’s Frank J. Selke Trophy with at odds of -295
  • How does he compare to other nominees Patrice Bergeron and Mark Stone?
  • Do either present more value to win the award?

The NHL Awards voting can get people unnerved sometimes, but when it comes to the Selke it’s pretty black and white. Well, actually, that’s not completely true. Selecting the best defensive forward still does come off as a little subjective, but it’s a category where the numbers can tell the story.

In released odds on the 2019 award and they agree that the stats should tell the tale at this year’s awards.

2019 Frank J. Selke Trophy Award Odds

Player Odds
Ryan O’Reilly -295
Patrice Bergeron +250
Mark Stone +700

*Odds taken 05/28/19. 

Selke Finalists Stats

For the Frank J. Selke, you need to take a closer glance at some key categories. It’s not just a plus-minus thing even though that does help. How many takeaways, blocked shots, face off wins in the defensive zone and more all go a long way to deciding the winner. Forwards aren’t expected to put up the same kind of stats as a defender, so the ones that can showcase both offensive and defensive talent are typically the last ones standing.

Now, let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, there are many other reasons for why these three have been nominated. As we know, Patrice Bergeron and his Bruins have had a pretty consistent season.

Frank J. Selke Stat Categories

Player Takeaways +/- Blocked Shots
Ryan O’Reilly 94 22 36
Patrice Bergeron 42 23 60
Mark Stone 34 17 4

However, for guys like Ryan O’Reilly and Mark Stone, this season was an uphill battle for the most part. O’Reilly and his St. Louis Blues clawed back from dead last, while Mark Stone was part of a sinking ship in Ottawa right up until this year’s trade deadline.

O’Reilly and the Blues story has been nothing short of fantastic as we all know. To top it all off though, before the arrival of Jordan Binnington, Jake Allen was the face of the goaltending tandem that helped put the Blues in dead last. How can an offensive guy by nature be expected to strive at the other end of the ice when he’s always back in the defensive zone? Well, enter Frank J. Selke.

It doesn’t always go to a player that’s part of a debacle, but the team’s struggles certainly didn’t hurt O’Reilly’s chances of being named best defensive forward.

Better Value on the Board?

While O’Reilly does lead the way in most stat categories, as well as in betting odds, it’s hard not to like Patrice Bergeron as well. The guy is a class ambassador (which means nothing, but still) and has been here before. Many times before.

Bergeron holds the Selke record with four trophy wins through 14 years. This could possibly be his fifth in 15 – a record that would either be untouchable or at least extremely hard to break.

Bergeron does have an outside shot given his blocks and his team’s success. When you can clear the zone, that’s a really good thing. In other words, playing for Boston, you get a lot of opportunities to do this on the back end. Playing in St. Louis (for the first half of the year) or Ottawa this season didn’t really present O’Reilly or Stone with the same chances.

Nonetheless, even though the awards generally pan out according to script, we have seen a few shockers before. If there’s another on tap, this one could at least rake you in a few bucks.


Additional SBD NHL Awards Coverage

Author Image