Tampa Bay Lightning ahead Anthony Cirelli has been named a finalist for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, awarded yearly “to the ahead who greatest excels within the defensive elements of the sport.”
Together with Cirelli, Sam Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov, each from the Florida Panthers, have been named finalists. Ought to Cirelli win the award, he could be the primary participant in Lightning historical past to win the award. He would additionally dethrone Barkov because the reigning Selke Trophy winner.
Members of the Skilled Hockey Writers Affiliation submitted ballots for the Selke Trophy on the conclusion of the common season. The highest three vote-getters are designated as finalists.
That is the primary time that Cirelli has been named a finalist in his profession. Nevertheless, he’s had two top-five finishes, ending fourth in 2019-20 and fifth in 2021-22. He has obtained votes each season since 2018-19, his first full season within the NHL.
His stable defensive sport performed an vital position within the Lightning successful back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021 and a 3rd straight look within the Stanley Cup Ultimate in 2022.
Cirelli completed the season with 72 blocked photographs, ranked ninth amongst forwards in 2024-25. His defensive level shares of two.7 ranked seventh within the NHL to guide all three finalists.
Alongside along with his protection receiving recognition, he additionally had an improved season on offense. He had profession highs for targets (27), assists (32) and factors (59). At age 27, he’s starting to take a much bigger step in his profession in each elements of his sport.
Cirelli is the most recent Lightning participant to be an award finalist for this season. Nikita Kucherov is a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, the MVP given out by the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation. Kucherov can be the winner of the Artwork Ross Trophy for this season.
Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was named a finalist for the Vezina trophy, the award handed out to the most effective goalie in a season.
