In the lockout shortened season, Stepan had 44 points and 48 games, and was a +25. I realize people have differing opinions on the usefulness of the +/- stat, but Stepan has been a +59 over the course of his career on a team, that over the years, haven't been able to score much.

I tend to agree with you that there is an elite crop of Selke candidates, who by the quality of their play and also their reputation, will dominate the award and it will be hard for a guy like Stepan to even get a nomination. But, I do see him as the type of guy that can be in that 5-10 range. I believe he finished in the Top 10 in the 2012-2013 season. But it will probably Bergeron or another perennial favorite.
- Pete V

There is no way he is in the top 10. In no order:

Kopitar
Bergeron
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
Hossa
Kesler
Backes
O'Reilly
Toews
Plekanec

In the lockout shortened season, Stepan had 44 points and 48 games, and was a +25. I realize people have differing opinions on the usefulness of the +/- stat, but Stepan has been a +59 over the course of his career on a team, that over the years, haven't been able to score much.

I tend to agree with you that there is an elite crop of Selke candidates, who by the quality of their play and also their reputation, will dominate the award and it will be hard for a guy like Stepan to even get a nomination. But, I do see him as the type of guy that can be in that 5-10 range. I believe he finished in the Top 10 in the 2012-2013 season. But it will probably Bergeron or another perennial favorite.
- Pete V

I may be a bit blinded, which is fine, but I'd think Sean Couturier, if he picks up his offensive production, has a better shot than Stepan.

There is no way he is in the top 10. In no order:

Kopitar
Bergeron
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
Hossa
Kesler
Backes
O'Reilly
Toews
Plekanec
- FourFeathers773

Last years voting

I may be a bit blinded, which is fine, but I'd think Sean Couturier, if he picks up his offensive production, has a better shot than Stepan.
- jmatchett383

- Senor_Elias

he finished 9th in voting last year, its not a crazy statement

he finished 9th in voting last year, its not a crazy statement
- DDM-Coga

As a 20-year-old former QMJHL scoring leader, the fact that he got votes against some of those amazing players leads me to believe that, if he can keep up his level of defensive and PK play while contributing more offensively, he can put his name in the hate for a serious contender.

I may be a bit blinded, which is fine, but I'd think Sean Couturier, if he picks up his offensive production, has a better shot than Stepan.
- jmatchett383

I definetely think he is a future Selke contender. Really good defensive player for someone so young, and I think he will pickup his offense. I think he's a 2-3 years away from really being in that debate, however, because, unfortunately, reputation does play a part in these awards.

There is no way he is in the top 10. In no order:

Kopitar
Bergeron
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
Hossa
Kesler
Backes
O'Reilly
Toews
Plekanec
- FourFeathers773

He finished 9th for the award in 2012-2013, so I am not sure you can say there is no way he is in the Top 10. And, I think several guys on that list that are either arguable or perhaps past their prime when it comes to that category.

As a 20-year-old former QMJHL scoring leader, the fact that he got votes against some of those amazing players leads me to believe that, if he can keep up his level of defensive and PK play while contributing more offensively, he can put his name in the hate for a serious contender.
- jmatchett383

Give him 3-5 years, the torch currnetly belongs to Bergeron, Kopitar, Toews, and Backes. Once their games start to slow down, guess like Couts and ROR will be getting higher placed votes

He finished 9th for the award in 2012-2013, so I am not sure you can say there is no way he is in the Top 10. And, I think several guys on that list that are either arguable or perhaps past their prime when it comes to that category.
- Pete V

I'll agree with that last part. As big of a fan as I am, I don't think Datsyuk deserves to be on that list right now. Same goes for Kesler (minus the "I'm a fan" part).

There is no way he is in the top 10. In no order:

Kopitar
Bergeron
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
Hossa
Kesler
Backes
O'Reilly
Toews
Plekanec
- FourFeathers773

You can't argue those rankings too much (Plekanec though?) but those are based on the past. How much longer are guys like Datsyuk and Hossa going to be considered perennial top 5 Selke candidates? Kesler has always had injury issues so what's to say he doesn't miss another chunk this year to knock him out of contention? What if Zetterberg's back gives out again? What if Stepan scores at a PPG clip if Kreider has a breakout year on his wing with MSL on the opposite side?

Sooner or later they will fade away. You have to make predictions based on how you think these players will perform this coming season, not based off their previous body of work. In 5 years, I wouldn't be surprised to see the list dominated by players like Palat, Stepan, ROR, Jaden Schwartz, Couturier and other players that you might dub as being "laughable" to be put into a Selke conversation today.

What about the possession guru Tanner Glass

he finished 9th in voting last year, its not a crazy statement
- DDM-Coga

wow, impressive - I take back my

I'm surprised Kopitar even gets a mention here. Isn't he overrated like Jonathan Quick? Great assessments here

Ovechkin or Kessel

Stepan for Selke is laughable

Is he a good two way center? Yes

Is he in the league of the Toews', Zetterbergs, Datsyuks, Kopitars, Keslers, Bergerons of the league?

Absolutely NOT
- FourFeathers773

Finished 9th in 2012-13. Ahead of Zetterberg and Kesler. Will he win it, no. But this proves you're dumb.

Finished 9th in 2012-13. Ahead of Zetterberg and Kesler. Will he win it, no. But this proves you're dumb.
- tomburton99

that was a shortened season. he didn't even rank in the 2013-2014 full season.

that was a shortened season. he didn't even rank in the 2013-2014 full season.
- numbear

Out of the top 20. IDK where. This is the best I could find. I'm not saying he's the next Pavel Datsyuk or Bob Gainey, but he's not defensively flawed either.

http://www.hockey-referen...ds/voting-2014.html#selke

Finished 9th in 2012-13. Ahead of Zetterberg and Kesler. Will he win it, no. But this proves you're dumb.
- tomburton99

Ok buddy, take off the rangers goggles, he isn't close to the ability of those others, whether you want to admit it or not

Yea, he got voted to 9th place once. Hoorayyyy

He followed that up with a year of not being in the top 20 in voting.

So who's dumb now Homer
http://sports.yahoo.com/b...lke-trophy-233413964.html

So for a guy you're defending so vehemently, he didn't get a single top 5 vote last year

So I guess my suggestion of stepan winning the selke is laughable isn't so egregious after all...

Ok buddy, take off the rangers goggles, he isn't close to the ability of those others, whether you want to admit it or not

Yea, he got voted to 9th place once. Hoorayyyy

He followed that up with a year of not being in the top 20 in voting.

So who's dumb now Homer
http://sports.yahoo.com/b...lke-trophy-233413964.html

So for a guy you're defending so vehemently, he didn't get a single top 5 vote last year

So I guess my suggestion of stepan winning the selke is laughable isn't so egregious after all...
- FourFeathers773

Yeah. I already beat you to the punch with that. I said pretty much the same thing. But he finished ahead or Zetterberg and Kesler once already. Making you still very dumb.

Ok buddy, take off the rangers goggles, he isn't close to the ability of those others, whether you want to admit it or not

Yea, he got voted to 9th place once. Hoorayyyy

He followed that up with a year of not being in the top 20 in voting.

So who's dumb now Homer
http://sports.yahoo.com/b...lke-trophy-233413964.html

So for a guy you're defending so vehemently, he didn't get a single top 5 vote last year

So I guess my suggestion of stepan winning the selke is laughable isn't so egregious after all...
- FourFeathers773

I bet stepan will be closer to winning it than your boy hossa within 3 years

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Hotstove: Who Will Win The Selke?
- ToddCordellVAN

Nail Yakupov...(Dallas Eakins efforts in getting through to him will also earn him a Sam Adams).

lol @ Zajac

Just because he's the best defensive player on your team doesn't mean he's a legit Selke candidate. But, well, I guess when your team only has about 9 fans, they've got to be overly loyal.
- jmatchett383