Selke

Someone today commented that the race for the Selke is wide open given the struggles (relatively speaking) of some of the typical contenders….

I think that's a shame. Selke winners are often guys that had career years offensively as well as being great defensively. Selke is based more around reputation then how well a player is actually playing defensively.

By any statistical and visual merit Brindamour should be absolutely running away with the Selke…. but he's never even mentioned as he doesn't have that 'big name' credit other stereotypical contenders do.

He's doing everythig imaginable for them. Leading all forwards in ice time, and shifts per game. On the ice more then most top D-Man. Even strength, PP, PK, trailing late in the game, trying to hold a lead when the other team is pressing. Winning all the important faceoffs. Blocking shots etc etc.
Brind'Amour leads the NHL with 383 wins in just 22 games, more than 17 a game. If you watch a Hurricanes game closely, you'll often see coach Peter Laviolette sub the veteran centreman in to take a draw. Amazingly, he's taken 42.2 per cent of the team's faceoffs, more than six per cent better than the second-place player (Halpern, 36.1).

These are the kind of stats that should really come into play for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. He averages 24 minutes a game, 4:18 of which comes while shorthanded, and plays a shutdown role every night.
The way he's played this season it will be an absolute crime if he doesn't win the Selke, no forward has provided anything comparable to his play for Carolina.

Rob Brind'Amour for Selke is the most obvious of all the NHL's awards at this early point in the season IMO.