Jordan Staal Makes a Compelling Case for the Selke Trophy

As the Carolina Hurricanes gear up for their eighth consecutive Stanley Cup Playoff appearance, the team has benefited from significant contributions across its roster. While players like Seth Jarvis, Jackson Blake, and Brandon Bussi have generated excitement in Raleigh with their stellar performances, captain Jordan Staal is currently enjoying an impressive scoring streak. More crucially, at 37 years old, Staal remains the defensive cornerstone for Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s squad, strengthening his argument for finally winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Staal's Merits for the Selke

The Selke Trophy is awarded annually to the forward who best demonstrates defensive skill. Throughout his remarkable 20-year NHL career, Staal has consistently been recognized for his defensive prowess, finishing in the Top-5 of Selke voting three times and in the Top-10 six times. In the 2023-24 season, he achieved his highest ranking yet, placing second only to Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers. The previous season saw him at 11th, with Barkov again taking the honors. As captain, a dominant force in the faceoff circle, an elite penalty killer, and an often-underrated two-way forward, Staal has more than built a compelling case for the Selke.

Historically, the trophy has frequently gone to Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins and, more recently, Barkov. Despite multiple strong bids, Staal has consistently fallen short. Individual awards have been somewhat elusive for Hurricanes players, with Jaccob Slavin's Lady Byng Trophy being a notable exception. Even Brind’Amour, a former Selke winner in 2006 and 2007, later earned the Jack Adams Award as coach.

This season, Staal has tallied 18 goals and 31 points in 68 games, nearing his first 20-goal season since 2015-16. His last season with over 20 goals was in 2011-12 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored 25. Furthermore, his exceptional performance in faceoffs is a testament to his consistency; he hasn't won less than 50% of his draws since the 2010-11 season.

Since joining the Hurricanes in 2012-13, Staal has been Brind’Amour’s go-to player for neutralizing opposing star players, whether at even strength or on the penalty kill. His discipline is another key asset, as he's only accumulated over 40 penalty minutes in two seasons during his tenure, ensuring his availability for the crucial penalty-killing unit.

This season, Staal's performance on both ends of the ice underscores his legitimate Selke candidacy. His 19.1% shooting percentage is the second-best of his career (after his rookie season's 22.1%), alongside an impressive 54.9% Corsi For and a 54.9% faceoff winning percentage. He continues to be a dominant force.

While the recipient of the 2025-26 Selke Trophy remains uncertain, Staal has undeniably done enough to be considered a strong finalist. His ability to excel offensively, even taking on a new role on the power play to help the Hurricanes become a top-10 unit, combined with his unwavering defensive impact, highlights his monster season. With 11 games remaining in the regular season, the question is: can Staal sustain this momentum and clinch the Selke?