Need to win a faceoff at a crucial point in a game? Then look no further than these five players, forwards with a flair for winning puck battles.
Who won the most faceoff draws in 2016-17? Hint: he skated away with a trophy (for the fourth time) at the NHL Awards this June.
Top 2016-17 faceoff artists
1. Patrice Bergeron - 1,089
That’s the league-leading number of faceoffs Patrice Bergeron won for the Boston Bruins in 2016-17, 50 more than his closest rival. The 32-year-old Quebec native, who showcased a 60.1 win rate, also netted his fourth Frank J. Selke Award as the NHL’s top defensive forward, tying Habs legend Bob Gainey for the most Selke wins.
2. Ryan O’Reilly - 1,039
In his second season with the Sabres, O’Reilly was a force in the faceoff circle, racking up 1,039 wins, accompanied by a 58.0 per cent success rate. The 26-year-old also reached the 20-goal plateau for the second straight campaign.
3. Ryan Kesler – 1,029
The only other player to hit the four-digit mark in faceoff wins, Kesler boasted a 57.4 per cent strike rate in the category. The Michigan native netted 22 goals and recorded 58 points in his third season with the Ducks.
4. Claude Giroux - 977
The Flyers captain slotted in fourth in most faceoff wins in 2016-17, and netted a 55.9 win percentage in the circle. His 44 assists ranked him tied for 20th in the category.
5. Mikko Koivu - 938
Minnesota’s captain chalked up 938 faceoff victories in 2016-17, to go along with a 55.2 win percentage. The Finnish veteran also contributed 58 points, including 18 goals, in 80 regular season games.
