Where is the Anze Kopitar Selke consideration??

[KopitarGOAT420]

If you can't tell by my name, I'm a huge Kings and Anze Kopitar fan. So I'll acknowledge I'm a little biased.

That said, I think we need to talk about the season Kopitar is having and how insane it is that he isn't getting more Selke consideration. Most lists you can find for Selke trophy rankings either don't list Kopitar at all or have him outside of the top 5 - This is criminal. Kopitar is having one of the best seasons of his career and I firmly believe this is a concrete example of east coast bias.

Now instead of comparing Kopitar to other great defensive players and stepping on the toes of other fans, I just want to highlight what Kopitar is doing since it seems many are unaware.

67 games played, 25 goals, 36 assists, 61 points (0.91 points/game), +15 rating, 4 PIMs, 56.3% faceoff win rate, and 20:25 TOI/game average - And I know the advanced stats are solid too.

I've highlighted a couple stats in particular, the most impressive (imo) being the 4 PIMs. For a guy who plays over 20 mins a night, in all situations, against the best players in the league... The fact that he's only taken 2 minor penalties in 67 games is nothing short of amazing.

As a 35 year old, the guy still EATS more minutes than most NHL defensemen, is virtually never out of position, doesn't take penalties, and is constantly breaking up plays and playing phenomenal defense. And I know the Selke is for defense, but he's able to do all this while still contributing at a high level offensively.

I realize someone like Bergeron may still be the favorite with the season he and the Bruins are having (especially with that unbelievable 60.2% faceoff win rate). But I really think Anze should be right there with him in the discussion.

Thoughts hockey world?

 

[Connor MethDavid]

Why is he the GOAT on or off 420? Is it because you need to be high for the GOAT goggles to work?

 

[hamzarocks]

He has danult as the defensive/checking center on his team

He is not an elite defensive guy at 35.

Still a good 1C this year

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Why is he the GOAT on or off 420? Is it because you need to be high for the GOAT goggles to work?

No. My love of Kopitar and 420 are mutually exclusive

 

[beedee]

He also slugs Pepto like a baus.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Why can't you bet on the Selke Trophy? Not prominent enough for oddsmakers to handicap?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

He has danult as the defensive/checking center on his team

He is not an elite defensive guy at 35.

Still a good 1C this year

Respectfully, this is an outdated opinion and kind of proves you haven't really watched the Kings this year (which is OK, you live in Toronto - but if that's the case, why speak on this as if you know?)

Danault hasn't been that great defensively this year - Kopitar has been much, much better. Obviously +/- is a flawed stat but Danault is a -9 and has honestly struggled a bit this year.

 

[BruinsFan37]

Because Bergeron is still better.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Because Bergeron is still better.

Lmao good talk. You made this an argument about who is better, not me.

Better defensively?? Or in general?

Because I might give Bergeron the slight edge defensively but Kopitar is definitely the superior 200ft player.

Bergeron has only hit 70 points 3 times in his career and has never hit 80 points. Kopitar has done it 7 times (and in fewer seasons on a team that has generally been worse than the Bruins) and has hit 80+ points multiple times.

Kopitar is MUCH better offensively and still plays an incredibly sound defensive game.

You east coasters wouldn't know anything about that though seeing as it's your bed time when most Kings games start. Sad.

(incoming MAD Bruins fans)

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

2022-23 Selke Trophy Race: February Update

He's not being talked about because there are other players who are better this year in most if not all categories.

I understand ANze fans being bitter that he won't get the recognition you feel he deserves with Bergeron playing simultaneously. But if you are looking for validation on HFBoard in a main thread then I have some bad news...

 

[ninetyeight]

He could be top5. Hischier has better advanced stats than him, and Petterson and Marner are probably ahead of Hischier.

1. Bergeron
2. Pettersson
Marner
Hischier
5. Kopitar?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

2022-23 Selke Trophy Race: February Update

He's not being talked about because there are other players who are better this year in most if not all categories.

I understand ANze fans being bitter that he won't get the recognition you feel he deserves with Bergeron playing simultaneously. But if you are looking for validation on HFBoard in a main thread then I have some bad news...

We're bitter for a reason. The guy is criminally underrated because half the hockey world never watches him play.

I'm not looking for validation - I'm trying to enlighten those that don't see the truth and the light.

I know damn well if Kopitar played for an east coast team he'd be viewed as a better player than Bergeron and this conversation of "wE sHoUlD jUsT reNaMe tHe SeLkE tRoPhy tHe BeRgErOn tRoPhY" would instead be about how we should actually rename it the 'Kopitar Trophy'.

But y'all not ready for that conversation yet. Smh.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Username checks out

 

[Bear of Bad News]

I know damn well if Kopitar played for an east coast team he'd be viewed as a better player than Bergeron and this conversation of "wE sHoUlD jUsT reNaMe tHe SeLkE tRoPhy tHe BeRgErOn tRoPhY" would instead be about how we should actually rename it the 'Kopitar Trophy'.

At age 35, though?

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

Username checks out

I'm not high I swear

2022-23 Selke Trophy Race: February Update

Also, are these guys supposed to 'know' hockey better than me??

Cuz they don't.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

I'm not high I swear


Also, are these guys supposed to 'know' hockey better than me??

Cuz they don't.

Prove it.

Show your homework.

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

The selke is dependant on perception and reputation more than any other award. So I will agree with your premise that he’s majorly hurt by playing on the west coast. I often wonder how their careers would be perceived if Kopitar and Bergeron switched places. I bet it would work out heavily in Kopitar favour.

 

[Romang67]

Given that it's a reputation trophy that you can become a finalist for even if your defensive game isn't particularly good that specific season, I'd say it's his relatively unimpressive defensive performance this and the previous 5 seasons.

 

[Machinehead]

I'm here for it.

Granted, I think Bergeron should be getting like his 16th in a row, but that's neither here nor there.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

The selke is dependant on perception and reputation more than any other award. So I will agree with your premise that he’s majorly hurt by playing on the west coast. I often wonder how their careers would be perceived if Kopitar and Bergeron switched places. I bet it would work out heavily in Kopitar favour.

My man!!

Very much agree. Obviously we'll never know for sure but Bergeron has played with better line mates on a (typically) better team for most of his career.

It's really not crazy to think if you swap them, Bergeron wouldn't get much love and Kopitar would be put on a pedestal.

Prove it.

Show your homework.

Wish I could prove I'm not celebrating 420 early but that would be tough.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

My man!!

Very much agree. Obviously we'll never know for sure but Bergeron has played with better line mates on a (typically) better team for most of his career.

It's really not crazy to think if you swap them, Bergeron wouldn't get much love and Kopitar would be put on a pedestal.


Wish I could prove I'm not celebrating 420 early but that would be tough.

No, I mean prove your claim about Kopitar.
Provide facts to support your thesis.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

I'm here for it.

Granted, I think Bergeron should be getting like his 16th in a row, but that's neither here nor there.

I can respect that.

Not trying to disrespect Bergeron (and if/when I have in this thread it's been more in a retaliatory / 'troll' manner) - Just trying to point out that it's a bit ridiculous no one is talking about what Kopitar is doing.

He plays significantly more minutes on a lesser team and is still phenomenal defensively and offensively.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

No, I mean prove your claim about Kopitar.
Provide facts to support your thesis.

I don't want to because the evidence is only there to prove Kopitar is better offensively and not defensively and if I start talking about that then I sink my own ship given this is a thread about the Selke trophy - an award that should be focused on defense.

Wait.... no, don't read that ^

Instead, you want proof? I'll give you proof:

 

[KevinRedkey]

Bergeron is like Usain Bolt, and everyone else is HFboards members. Hyperbolic yes, but my point is It's simply not worth discussing how close the race is when there's a clear leader.

 

[nturn06]

If you can't tell by my name, I'm a huge Kings and Anze Kopitar fan. So I'll acknowledge I'm a little biased.

That said, I think we need to talk about the season Kopitar is having and how insane it is that he isn't getting more Selke consideration. Most lists you can find for Selke trophy rankings either don't list Kopitar at all or have him outside of the top 5 - This is criminal. Kopitar is having one of the best seasons of his career and I firmly believe this is a concrete example of east coast bias.

Now instead of comparing Kopitar to other great defensive players and stepping on the toes of other fans, I just want to highlight what Kopitar is doing since it seems many are unaware.

67 games played, 25 goals, 36 assists, 61 points (0.91 points/game), +15 rating, 4 PIMs, 56.3% faceoff win rate, and 20:25 TOI/game average - And I know the advanced stats are solid too.

I've highlighted a couple stats in particular, the most impressive (imo) being the 4 PIMs. For a guy who plays over 20 mins a night, in all situations, against the best players in the league... The fact that he's only taken 2 minor penalties in 67 games is nothing short of amazing.

As a 35 year old, the guy still EATS more minutes than most NHL defensemen, is virtually never out of position, doesn't take penalties, and is constantly breaking up plays and playing phenomenal defense. And I know the Selke is for defense, but he's able to do all this while still contributing at a high level offensively.

I realize someone like Bergeron may still be the favorite with the season he and the Bruins are having (especially with that unbelievable 60.2% faceoff win rate). But I really think Anze should be right there with him in the discussion.

Thoughts hockey world?

Now, make your case why AK should win the Selke over Jack Hughes