2020-21 Norris Trophy candidates: Adam Fox, Victor Hedman, Cale Makar

[Machinehead]

If you didn't get a chance to see Fox much, here are all of his great plays this season. Literally all of them. Please share if you enjoy it... this took more time to make than a Kevin Smith film.

An hour of Adam Fox. My dreams have come true.

 

[EveryDay]

Makar would probably be the 3rd player in the entire NHL I would start my franchise with after McDavid and MacKinnon.

Give him his Norris, he's the best NHL defenceman to come to the league in at least 10 years.

 

[Sky04]

Hedman is head and shoulders (literally and figuratively) above the rest when healthy, but there's tons of speculation that he isn't. He shouldn't receive that many votes from the professionals - whose job is to follow the league - when even a casual fan can notice he's having an off season. Now, if he ends up winning it...

I mean he wasn't that off..... he was easily the favorite for more than half the season and plays with the worst partner of the 3.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

It's quite unfortunate that you can be a literal pylon defensively, but if you score a ton of points, you're in contention to get the Norris.

With the way some of these arguments being made, they should change this award to "The defenseman who scored the most points" award or something.

What happened to the defense part of it? If you aren't one of the best defenders in the league, you shouldn't be in contention for the Norris.

 

[LMFAO]

I guess the Rangers GM isnt too thrilled with Fox’s nomination when he gotta get a new deal done next year lol

 

[Hockey Outsider]

This was Hedman's 5th time being a Norris trophy finalist.

Only 13 other defensemen (going back to the award's creation) have five or more years as a finalist - Bourque (15x); Lidstrom (11x); Orr (9x); Harvey (8x); Park (7x); and each of Potvin, Robinson, Chelios, Coffey, Pilote, MacInnis, Chara, and Gadsby (6x).

Hedman passes some big names including Pronger, Horton, Salming, Karlsson, and Doughty.

 

[Machinehead]

It's quite unfortunate that you can be a literal pylon defensively, but if you score a ton of points, you're in contention to get the Norris.

With the way some of these arguments being made, they should change this award to "The defenseman who scored the most points" award or something.

What happened to the defense part of it? If you aren't one of the best defenders in the league, you shouldn't be in contention for the Norris.

I assume you're talking about Hedman because Makar is fine defensively.

He's not Adam Fox but he's not a pylon.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

I assume you're talking about Hedman because Makar is fine defensively.

He's not Adam Fox but he's not a pylon.

I remember when Karlsson and Subban won and they are far from top tier defenders. Pylon is an exaggeration. What I mean is voters and the community value points over actual defensive play.

 

[kingsfan28]

No playoffs, no awards. It will be Hedman, Fox, Makar in that order. The Norris is the one trophy that is earned over years of service, and I'm sure Fox and Makar will one day win one, but not this year.

 

[Machinehead]

I remember when Karlsson and Subban won and they are far from top tier defenders. Pylon is an exaggeration. What I mean is voters and the community value points over actual defensive play.

The points leader has won the Norris five times since the lockout

 

[KingPuckChoo]

I remember when Karlsson and Subban won and they are far from top tier defenders. Pylon is an exaggeration. What I mean is voters and the community value points over actual defensive play.

remember how insanely difficult it was to show people how E Karlsson (OTT) and PK Subban (MTL) are overrated?

fast forward 3-4 yrs later, it's not even a discussion anymore

shows you the power of the fanbase and media vs the truth

i'm glad those debates are put to bed for good

 

[golffuul]

Makar should win...but the PHWA has been known to just "block vote" based on a couple of popular writers, so this is pretty much up in the air between Makar and Hedman.

 

[JAS 39 Gripen]

Wasn’t there some guy “people” thought is already better than Lidstrom in the last years playoffs? Where’s he on the list?

 

[Rapsfan]

Why does NHL have that types of awards for a specific position? Don't we have "All-NHL teams"? Why do we need best D player of the year award? In the NBA, we don't have "best guard of the year" award.

 

[tarheelhockey]

remember how insanely difficult it was to show people how E Karlsson (OTT) and PK Subban (MTL) are overrated?

fast forward 3-4 yrs later, it's not even a discussion anymore

shows you the power of the fanbase and media vs the truth

i'm glad those debates are put to bed for good

In Karlsson's case there was a catastrophic injury from which he never really got back on track. Not really fair to parallel him with Subban.

 

[jetsforever]

Pretty crazy to see 2 young guys there

 

[saintunspecified]

I'm an Islanders fan, but I'd sure as heck like to see a Jewish guy, Adam Fox, win a major award in a major pro team sport. (Ryan Braun was juicing, doesn't count imo).

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Hedman will get a reputation win and people will freak out. Not a surprise though, the Norris has always been the most joke of the major awards over the past several years.

 

[avsfan9]

It's quite unfortunate that you can be a literal pylon defensively, but if you score a ton of points, you're in contention to get the Norris.

With the way some of these arguments being made, they should change this award to "The defenseman who scored the most points" award or something.

What happened to the defense part of it? If you aren't one of the best defenders in the league, you shouldn't be in contention for the Norris.

Whose a pylon defensively?

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Don't like the Bruins but McAvoy should be there instead of Hedman

Love McAvoy but not even close.

Letang was robbed a nomination. I'd even put Nurse's stellar year ahead of McAvoy.

 

[Super Hans]

12 games is too many games to miss in a 56-game season and Fox didn't separate enough from Makar in scoring, so I'm guessing Hedman by default, which is a shame.

 

[OdinsFury]

Hedman through the first 2/3 of the year was playing great hockey, leading all Defenseman in scoring and was approaching +20 in +/-. He then got hurt and it severely impacted his game and bolts insiders have confirmed he needs surgery after the season. He started out slowly in first 2 games in playoffs including a reluctance to shoot pucks on net but has been great since and is back up near top of scoring lead! But offense aside, its Hedman's D that is what sets him apart from most other high scoring D. Hedman can shut down odd man rushes like few others due to his size and speed! So while Makar and Fox probably had better full offensive seasons that Hedman, defensively they just dont compare! Plus Hedman deserves the award for putting up his numbers having to play with Jan Rutta as a partner!

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

The missed games might cost Makar, but I think this guy deserves it.



Congrats to Fox on a fantastic season. Either guy winning the Norris in their second season would be an unbelievable accomplishment.

I didn’t think Hedman was as strong this year, but the guy is still putting in work in the playoffs. Well done by him, too.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Love McAvoy but not even close.

Letang was robbed a nomination. I'd even put Nurse's stellar year ahead of McAvoy.

You're not serious? Nurse over McAvoy?

 

[Iapyi]

Why does NHL have that types of awards for a specific position? Don't we have "All-NHL teams"? Why do we need best D player of the year award? In the NBA, we don't have "best guard of the year" award.

The real question should be why doesn't the NBA do what the NHL does not the other way around.

Why do people seem to think that each and every sport should mirror one another?

Should every other sport just do what cricket does? How about rugby? Do professional table tennis players have annual individual awards?