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Mark Stone Nominated for Award for Defensive Forwards

By Christopher Sarda

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 16: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 16: Mark Stone #61 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the San Jose Sharks during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Mark Stone has been nominated for the Frank J. Selke trophy. If he wins it he’ll be the first winger to hold the award since the 2002-03 season.

Mark Stone has an opportunity to break a long streak of centers winning the Frank J. Selke trophy. And award given to forwards who demonstrate the most skill in the defensive component of the game.

The last non-center to win the award was Jere Lehtinen, right-wing for the Dallas Stars in the 2002-03 season.

Since then it’s been an award for centers with Pavel Datsyuk (a mentor to Nikita Gusev)  as a Red Wing, winning it three times and Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins notching four Selke trophies.

Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings is the reigning trophy holder also winning in the 2015-16 season.

Mark Stone is nominated along stalwart Patrice Bergeron and Ryan O’Reilly of the St. Louis Blues. Both of Stone’s co-nominees play the center position.

The Ottawa Senators benefited for the majority of Mark Stone’s defense minded tenacity until he was dealt to the Golden Knights at the trade deadline along with Tobias Lindberg for Oscar Lindberg, Erik Brannstrom and 2020 second round pick.

Mark Stone’s defense hasn’t been in the spotlight these playoffs only because he’s been so good offensively. Through four playoff game he’s compiled 10 points (6 goals and 4 assists) including a hat trick in Game 2 against the San Jose Sharks.

Patrice Bergeron has won it before and unlike other sports voters don’t seem to have a bias against past winners. Bergeron and Datsyuk are evidence of that.

Next. Nikita Gusev Signs With Kings Probably Won't Play in Game 5. dark

Even if it wasn’t a Golden Knight do you think it’s time for a winger to win the award? Or do you think the nature of the position makes centers more likely winners?

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