Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar has won the Selke Trophy in recognition of “the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Kopitar, who finished second in Frank J. Selke voting in 2014 and third in 2015, becomes the first Kings player in franchise history to capture the award. Kopitar garnered 1,145 voting points, including 77 first-place votes, to edge second-place Patrice Bergeron of the Boston Bruins (996 voting points), who had claimed the Selke Trophy in three of the past four seasons. Ryan Kesler of the Anaheim Ducks, the 2011 Selke winner, finished third with 424 points.

Kopitar led all NHL forwards in total ice time (1,690:12), an average of 20:52 per game, on the club that ranked third in the NHL in team defense, allowing an average of 2.34 goals a contest. He ranked fifth and seventh League-wide in total faceoffs and faceoff wins with 1,776 and 950, respectively, setting career highs in both categories.

He placed second in the NHL in plus-minus (+34) and was the League’s third-ranked forward in the team puck possession metric SAT (shot attempts differential), as the Kings registered 332 more shot attempts than they allowed when Kopitar was on the ice while each team had five skaters per side. 2015-2016 Frank Selke Trophy Voting, Top 20 Finish