ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Blues forward Ryan O'Reilly is a finalist for the NHL's Selke Trophy.
The Frank J. Selke Trophy is an annual award given to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game. The winner is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular season.
Don't tell anyone because he wasn't suppose to tell @FerrarioKMOX and @AmyMarxkors ...But @DarrenDreger says @StLouisBlues forward Ryan O'Reilly was his No. 1 vote for the #Selke Trophy #NHLAwards #STLBlues https://t.co/EPuNk48tpy pic.twitter.com/1CQEKIGuhu
— KMOXSports (@KMOXSports) April 18, 2019O'Reilly, 28, was acquired by the Blues via trade from the Buffalo Sabres on July 1, 2018. During the 2018-19 regular season, the Clinton, Ontario, native set career highs in assists (49), points (77) and plus/minus (+22), while he paced the NHL overall in faceoff wins with 1,086. O'Reilly was one of just two forwards to post at least 77 points and a +22 rating while playing over 160 total shorthanded minutes.
He'll be up against forwards Patrice Bergeron of Boston and Mark Stone of Vegas. Bergeron is a four-time Selke winner and Stone would become the first winger to win since 2002-03.
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O'Reilly has never won a Selke before, but did win the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in the 2013-14 season for the "best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."
His best finish for the Selke was sixth place in the 2012-13 season.
Earlier this week, O'Reilly was also nominated for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which goes to a the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice and has made significant contributions to the community.
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