The National Hockey League (NHL) on Sunday announced the three finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward of the 2023-2024 season.

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Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes will attempt to succeed Patrice Bergeron, the former Boston Bruins player who won the honor the past two seasons.

Matthews and Staal will have the opportunity to win this trophy for the first time in their careers, while Barkov could reclaim the honor for the second time.

Known for his impeccable play in all three zones, Barkov finished last season with 80 points, including 23 goals, in 73 games. The 1.90 meter tall, 100 kilogram center also recorded an impressive goal difference of +33.

While we mostly recognize his offensive contributions, particularly his 69-goal season, Matthews continues to shine in his field with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He achieved a differential of +31 and collected 107 points in the regular season, the best of his career.

The selection of Jordan Staal as the third finalist raises eyebrows as the Carolina Hurricanes captain finished the season at -14 with just 30 points in 80 games. His average playing time of 15 minutes and 22 seconds per game is also his worst since his rookie season in 2006-2007.

However, the 35-year-old center was solid in the faceoff circle with a success rate of 58.1%.

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