NHL.com writers vote the Norris trophy

[Avs44]

You’ve just triggered a Colorado fan meltdown.

oh no, look at the meltdown I'm having.

 

[Breakers]

really surprised that 3,4,5 go like:

3) Dobson
4) Josi
5) Hedman

 

[SwissFan12]

really surprised that 3,4,5 go like:

3) Dobson
4) Josi
5) Hedman

Me too, Josi should be higher

 

[Machinehead]

Are you saying Fox should win this year?

No, Hugues should, but to not even have him in the top 5 is hilarious.

Especially when it includes Hedman who is a forward at this point.

 

[My3Sons]

Yep, pretty much just sort by points and those are who are viewed as the top 5 defenseman. Terrific insight into the minds of the voters.

That’s pretty much it in a nutshell.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

oh no, look at the meltdown I'm having.

I have seen far too many Avs fans spit venom and ridicule people who compared Hughes/Makar in the past. The reactions were bewildering. #HughesForNorris

 

[Levitate]

Fox missing some time pretty immediately ruled him out of winning but he might also never be quite the guy who has monster offensive years all the time. His overall impacts are top of the league though and probably should earn him consideration

 

[UnSandvich]

Fox missing some time pretty immediately ruled him out of winning but he might also never be quite the guy who has monster offensive years all the time. His overall impacts are top of the league though and probably should earn him consideration

Eh he’s still almost P/GP, including the time after getting injured where he had to get back up to speed. (Also he’s playing with Ryan Lindgren, who couldn’t find the offensive zone with a map)

 

[Tralfamadore]

If Quinn wins, would that put him with Makar now? Was a discussion a few years back and was kind of scoffed at, but it's now looking like it could be a good debate pretty quick ehre.

No not until he's shows some playoff dominance. Well deserved Norris this year though.

 

[Goose]

So Hughes has 5 more points in 5 more games played, is that pretty much what’s got him the lead?

 

[Levitate]

Eh he’s still almost P/GP, including the time after getting injured where he had to get back up to speed. (Also he’s playing with Ryan Lindgren, who couldn’t find the offensive zone with a map)

Yeah, we all wish we could see what Fox could do with a partner that wasn't an offensive black hole. They wouldn't even have to be good at putting up points on their own or whatever just be able to hold the puck in at the line and not turn it over

 

[Tralfamadore]

So Hughes has 5 more points in 5 more games played, is that pretty much what’s got him the lead?

Na he's been better overall.

 

[Ncit3]

Do we mention defensive metrics at all? I know everyone wants to talk offensive stats, of which both Hughes and Makar have in spades, but Hughes plays less than a minute a game on PK and Makar averages nearly 3 minutes a game, more than Hedman, and only trailing Matheson in the top 10 defensive scorers in the league. Hughes also blocks far far fewer shots, hits less, and has games in hand on Makar.

I like Hughes, I am glad he will represent the USA as a top 2 defender in the world. I honestly think he's in the same stratosphere as Makar. But I would still take Cale 10 out of 10, and with obvious bias of course, but I think his all-around game is just better than Hughes.

 

[Rowlet]

So Hughes has 5 more points in 5 more games played, is that pretty much what’s got him the lead?

Hughes has been incredible, you should watch him. There was at one point a stat where 6 NHL D had 30-40 mins of OZone possession while Hughes had like 60.

Makar, for all his stats, hasn't been as good defensively this year.

 

[Rowlet]

Do we mention defensive metrics at all? I know everyone wants to talk offensive stats, of which both Hughes and Makar have in spades, but Hughes plays less than a minute a game on PK and Makar averages nearly 3 minutes a game, more than Hedman, and only trailing Matheson in the top 10 defensive scorers in the league. Hughes also blocks far far fewer shots, hits less, and has games in hand on Makar.

I like Hughes, I am glad he will represent the USA as a top 2 defender in the world. I honestly think he's in the same stratosphere as Makar. But I would still take Cale 10 out of 10, and with obvious bias of course, but I think his all-around game is just better than Hughes.

Makar starts 25% of his shifts in the offensive zone, Hughes only starts 10. Additionally, Hughes has 62% corsi (3rd), 60% fenwick (7th amont D with 25g+), 68% OIG% (3rd among D with 13+ games played). Sure, Makar plays more but that doesn't make his playtime better.

Makar is 55% corsi (34th), 55% fenwick (30th), and 59% OIG% (26th), no game paramaters for Makar because he's too far down the list and I don't want to start counting.

 

[Buck Naked]

Makar without MacKinnon on the ice 5v5 this year:

11GF, 16GA, 40.74 GF%, 46.14 xGF%

Much better for MacKinnon to get Norris votes since he seems to be the one making sure that Cale is good. Cale Makar's 2.08 GF/60 when separated from MacKinnon would put him 155th of the 198 Dmen with over 500 minutes played.

EDIT:

Just for reference.. Remove Elias Pettersson and JT Miller from Hughes and his numbers look like this.

58.55 GF%, 58.86 xGF%, 3.51 GF/60.

 

[BenningHurtsMySoul]

I'm sure this will be a level-headed, reserved thread filled with reasonable takes from fans of both teams.

 

[Dave92]

If Quinn wins, would that put him with Makar now? Was a discussion a few years back and was kind of scoffed at, but it's now looking like it could be a good debate pretty quick ehre.

Lets see if he does anything in the playoffs

 

[McJedi]

Makar vs Hughes tonight. Must see TV.

 

[EXTRAS]

I think if makar finishes strong down the stretch he can still take it. He's got a better point/game right now and kills penalties, unlike Hughes. Hughes had an insanely fast start and then kinda came back to earth.

Will be interesting should be close.

 

[Avs44]

Makar vs Hughes tonight. Must see TV.

Looking forward to it! Of course, if Makar has a great game and Hughes doesn't it's because Makar is the awesomest and deserves the Norris immediately and I'll be in this thread to tell everyone about it as obnoxiously as possible. Unfortunately, if Hughes has a great game and Makar doesn't it's because the Avs played last night and the refs clearly favored the Canucks.

Just getting the rational, level-headed debate started here.

 

[TheUnusedCrayon]

I think if makar finishes strong down the stretch he can still take it. He's got a better point/game right now and kills penalties, unlike Hughes. Hughes had an insanely fast start and then kinda came back to earth.

Will be interesting should be close.

Hughes has been great all season. He's putting up less points because the forwards aren't producing at nearly the rate. Hughes has had to defend more in the 2nd half of the season (and has arguably been better defensively the 2nd half as well).

Hughes isn't winning just on his offense alone. Defensively he's been head and shoulders above Makar on a lot of stats which have been posted above.

 

[TropicOfNoReturn]

Yep, pretty much just sort by points and those are who are viewed as the top 5 defenseman. Terrific insight into the minds of the voters.

Are you just butthurt that the second-pair scrub Darnell Nurse, who makes more money than Quinn Hughes, isn't being discussed as a potential nominee?

 

[Breakers]

love Hughes progression and consistent improvement in all areas of his game.
Vancouver’s position in the standings
His scoring
It will tough to knock him off this season
He seems extra motivated this season.
But a late season surge by any of these guys could change things, as recency bias is always prominent in voting.

 

[EXTRAS]

Hughes has been great all season. He's putting up less points because the forwards aren't producing at nearly the rate. Hughes has had to defend more in the 2nd half of the season (and has arguably been better defensively the 2nd half as well).

Hughes isn't winning just on his offense alone. Defensively he's been head and shoulders above Makar on a lot of stats which have been posted above.

This award is pretty much an offensive award. If makar finishes the season with more points and less games I'd suspect he will win it, even if hughes played excellently defensively in the stretch. That being said, I hate when dmen who don't play the pk win this award.

Also, I'm a Canucks fan and really happy to have Hughes the best offensive dman the canucks have ever had. Really fun to watch.