May. 18, 2024 20:46 PM EST

Florida Panthers Captain Aleksander Barkov Wins Selke Trophy As Nhl's Best Defensive Forward

Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is congratulated after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 2 against the Boston Bruins of a second-round series of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Lynne Sladky, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) is congratulated after scoring a goal during the third period of Game 2 against the Boston Bruins of a second-round series of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) passes his stick to a fan after the Panthers defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 2 of a second-round series of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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NEW YORK (AP) — Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov has won the Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward, the league announced Saturday night.

Barkov is a two-time Selke winner after also finishing first in voting for the award in 2021. He was a big part of the Panthers allowing the fewest goals this season and won 57.3% of his faceoffs, ranking ninth among players with at least 50 games and 500 attempts.

The 28-year-old center from Finland received 156 of 194 first-place votes from members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and was listed on all but two ballots.

In the playoffs, Barkov has led Florida to a second consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference final.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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