Datsyuk a Selke Trophy finalist

TORONTO, April 28 (UPI) -- Detroit center Pavel Datsyuk, last year's Selke Trophy winner, was selected Tuesday as a finalist for the NHL's top defensive forward award in 2008-09.

Datsyuk, Philadelphia's Mike Richards and Vancouver's Ryan Kesler were named the finalists for the Frank J. Selke Trophy, which has been given to the league's best defensive forward. It was first awarded in 1978.

Datsyuk was fourth in the NHL with 97 points and second in the league with 89 takeaways and his plus-minus rating of plus-34 was third best in the NHL this season. He is looking to join Sergei Fedorov as two-time Selke Trophy winners from Detroit.

Richards led the NHL with seven short-handed goals and tied for the league lead among forwards with 90 blocked shots and was third among that group with 83 takeaways.

Kesler was seventh among forwards with 70 blocked shots and 74 takeaways. He played on a checking line as a center and was a forward on Vancouver's top line.

The NHL is to announce its award winners June 18.