Early Norris trophy candidates?

[rocketdan9]

Hedman is such a beast. He should win it but they will give it to a player that hasn't won it before.

I remember when he started he was a shy and timid 6'6 D. Taller guys like him really do need a few extra years to grow into their body and adjust to the pace.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Hedman’s to lose.

 

[logik47]

Hedman, Doughty and Makar as my top three.

Petry, Nurse and McAvoy could be dark horses though...

Honourable mentions to Ekblad and Chychrun

 

[Critical13]

Honestly, it's Makar right now and it's not really even all that close:

Hedman makes up some ground offensively:

McAvoy is a secondary assist machine apparently.


My Rankings would look like this:

1. Makar


2. Hedman
3. Hamilton
4. McAvoy


5. Doughty
6. Some others like Pionk, Petry...would need to check the #s.

 

[oilers4life]

Yep, I never thought I'd say this, but Darnell Nurse absolutely should be in the conversation right now. I wouldn't have him winning, but it's not a stretch to say he's been top 5 so far.

and some how people will find a way to hate him no matter how good nurse plays

 

[Chimpradamus]

Every trophy this year has a HUGE asterix to me. All teams play in four separate leagues. Enough said. I couldn't care less about the awards given this time around.

 

[FeatherHead]

Moritz Seider, Jake Sanderson, and Jamie Drysdale.

 

[FeatherHead]

Seriously tho, the award is a joke. They just end up giving it to the guy that best pretends to be a forward. It has nothing to do with defense.

 

[Critical13]

and some how people will find a way to hate him no matter how good nurse plays

Nobody hates Nurse, he just isn't good enough to be in this conversation yet.

Of the categories I examined above, he was above those 5 players in 1 category - GF/60. I wonder if that has something to do with being on the ice with 2 generational players? He was easily the worst in most of the "against" stats, such as expected goals against and corsi against.

 

[Sol]

Where did Doughty come from? I thought he was on the path to washed up land

Hockey outside the east coast exists.

 

[koteka]

It is Hedman’s to lose.

I have Nurse on my fantasy team, so I appreciate the season he is having, but the offensive hardware will go to the North and the defensive hardware won’t.

Aaron Ekblad is having a very good season so far. He deserves a mention in this thread.

Doughty will get plenty of votes if the Kings make the playoffs.

Makar will get votes this year and be a serious contender next year.

 

[rocketdan9]

Seriously tho, the award is a joke. They just end up giving it to the guy that best pretends to be a forward. It has nothing to do with defense.

Keith and Chara say hi

 

[Mrb1p]

Petry shouldnt get any votes, he had a very good 10 games but now hes been ass.

 

[FeatherHead]

Keith and Chara say hi

They’re truly outliers. And if you look at their offensive production those years, you can still see it was clearly a factor.

 

[Mattb124]

Hockey outside the east coast exists.

Unconfirmed rumor

 

[BCNate]

I know it's going t bother a lot of people, but Quinn Hughes will be a finalist at a minimum.

 

[NuxFan09]

I know it's going t bother a lot of people, but Quinn Hughes will be a finalist at a minimum.

I'd feel a little weird as a Canucks fan of that happened. He doesn't deserve a Norris.

That's not to say he deservedly win one in the future though. I believe in his two way play. Just not this season.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I think you can throw all of McAvoy, Nurse, Petry, Rielly, and Makar in the "deserving of a look" pile but none of them have the same clout that Hedman does and he'll get the votes based on name and history, fairly or unfairly.

Agreed Hedman,
I heard someone say Makar’s minutes are sheltered and favourable ozone starts., haven’t checked if true.

 

[danpantz]

Agreed Hedman,
I heard someone say Makar’s minutes are sheltered and favourable ozone starts., haven’t checked if true.

I dont know his qual comp numbers and I don't know of a site that tracks them. He's at about 60% o-zone start which isn't anything crazy and he kills some penalties so he's earning his praise.

 

[Critical13]

Agreed Hedman,
I heard someone say Makar’s minutes are sheltered and favourable ozone starts., haven’t checked if true.

Stat can be overrated sometimes in my opinion. Most D of this calibre you want getting lots of chances in the ozone and many sit around 45-55%. Only the heavy heavy defensive usage guys get crazy numbers.

It might be difficult to overcome his horrid start and the subsequent narrative that followed (that he's never been able to play defense and should become a forward, lol). He's turned around his defensive play quite a bit since the start of the year (which shouldn't be that hard, given how awfully low that bar was set) and could right the ship enough for his offense to take precedent. He's looking a lot more like he did last season.

Now, I'm not saying he should be nominated; just that offense plays a way bigger part than it should in Norris voting and there aren't many players in the NHL on his level in that regard.

I don’t think you need all this explaination - the kid is scoring at a ridiculous pace and deserves to be mentioned. Or his fault his partners are some of the worst dmen in the division.

 

[nowhereman]

I'd feel a little weird as a Canucks fan of that happened. He doesn't deserve a Norris.

That's not to say he deservedly win one in the future though. I believe in his two way play. Just not this season.

It might be difficult to overcome his horrid start and the subsequent narrative that followed (that he's never been able to play defense and should become a forward, lol). He's turned around his defensive play quite a bit since the start of the year (which shouldn't be that hard, given how awfully low that bar was set) and could right the ship enough for his offense to take precedent. He's looking a lot more like he did last season.

Now, I'm not saying he should be nominated; just that offense plays a way bigger part than it should in Norris voting and there aren't many players in the NHL on his level in that regard.

 

[kooner91]

Hedman
Mcavoy
Makar

With Doughty, Hughes, Ekblad, Klingberg, Petry and Nurse receiving votes.

 

[The Macho King]

Hedman has a revolving door on his right of Rutta, Schenn, and Foote.

Most teams put their best RHD with their best LHD. Tampa puts its worst. Because we have Hedman.

Hedman should be on his third Norris. He will win his second.

 

[Kcb12345]

I could see Makar winning if he stays healthy. He's getting a lot of media attention this season and will continue to get it, and the points will keep flowing in no matter what provided he stays healthy like I mentioned. Perks of playing on an incredible offensive team. Hedman will get nominated for sure as well. Then probably some North division player cause that's who the voters will be watching

 

[BCNate]

I'd feel a little weird as a Canucks fan of that happened. He doesn't deserve a Norris.

That's not to say he deservedly win one in the future though. I believe in his two way play. Just not this season.

I agree with you, but he will more than likely be top 3 in D scoring and get a nomination.

In all fairness to him, he has been much better defensively since we have got out pairings sorted.