Roman Josi – CanucksBanter

NEW YORK (May 1, 2024) – Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche are the three finalists for the 2023-24 James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position,” the National Hockey League announced today.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Norris Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.

Following are the finalists, in alphabetical order:

Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks

Hughes, in his first season as Vancouver’s captain, paced defensemen with 75 assists and 92 points (17-75—92 in 82 GP) – both figures franchise records for a blueliner, ahead of the marks he established in 2022‑23 (7-69—76 in 78 GP) – to guide the Canucks to their first playoff berth since 2019‑20 and first division title since 2012-13. Hughes also ranked among the leading defensemen in power-play assists (1st; 33), power-play points (2nd; 38), plus/minus (4th; +38), goals (t-6th; 17), total time on ice (7th; 2,024:10), shots on goal (9th; 199) and power-play goals (t-9th; 5). He became the eighth-fastest blueliner in NHL history to accumulate 300 career points, doing so in his 331st contest (Jan. 24 vs. STL). Hughes also became the third defenseman in League history – after Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr – to register at least 200 assists over a three-season span, reaching the total April 8 vs. VGK. The 24-year-old Orlando, Fla., native is the first player in Vancouver’s 53-year history who has been voted as a finalist for the Norris Trophy and is seeking to become the fourth U.S.-born player to win the award, following Chris Chelios (3x, last 1995-96), Brian Leetch (2x, last 1996-97) and Adam Fox (2020-21).

Roman Josi, Nashville Predators

Josi led defensemen in goals (23), power-play goals (9) and shots on goal (268) across 82 games (23-62—85) to propel the Predators to their 10th playoff berth in his 13 seasons with the team. His 23 goals equaled a career high, set in 2021-22 (23-73—96 in 80 GP), and marked the most by a blueliner at age 33 or older in NHL history. Josi also finished among the top 2023-24 defensemen in game-winning goals (t-2nd; 5), points (3rd; 85), power-play points (t-4th; 33), assists (5th; 62), power-play assists (7th; 24) and total time on ice (8th; 2,019:45). After a 9-10-0 start to the season, he led all blueliners in goals (20), assists (53) and points (73) as Nashville went 38-20-5 in its final 63 contests (Nov. 26 – April 15), highlighted by a franchise-record 18-game point streak (Feb. 17 – March 26) during which Josi accumulated 8-16—24 and a +22 rating – both tops among defensemen in that span. Josi is a Norris Trophy finalist for the third time, after winning the award in 2019-20 and placing second in voting in 2021‑22. At age 33, he is the oldest finalist for the trophy since Mark Giordano (age 35 w/ CGY) and Brent Burns (age 34 w/ SJS) in 2018-19, with Giordano taking home the award that season and Burns finishing second.

Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Makar topped defensemen with 1.17 points per game (21-69—90 in 77 GP) – the third-highest average by a blueliner over the past 30 seasons (minimum: 50 GP) – to power the Avalanche to their seventh consecutive playoff berth. Makar, who set single-season franchise records for assists and points by a defenseman, ranked second among 2023-24 blueliners in goals (21), assists (69) and points (90). He also finished among the leading defensemen in power-play points (1st; 39), shorthanded points (t-1st; 4), power-play assists (2nd; 32), shots on goal (3rd; 231), takeaways (3rd; 70), power-play goals (t-3rd; 7) and average time on ice (9th; 24:46). The 25-year-old Makar registered his 300th point in his 280th contest (Jan. 20 at PHI) to become the second-fastest blueliner in League history to reach the milestone, one game shy of Bobby Orr (279 GP). Makar is a Norris Trophy finalist for the fourth time in his first five NHL seasons, after winning the award in 2021-22, finishing second in 2020-21 and placing third in 2022‑23. Only three other players have been voted as a Norris Trophy finalist at least four times within their first five seasons – Orr(5x), Brad Park (4x) and Denis Potvin (4x) – and just two of them have multiple wins within that span – Orr (4x) and Potvin (2x).

History

The James Norris Memorial Trophy was presented in 1953 by the four children of the late James Norris in memory of the former owner-president of the Detroit Red Wings.

Announcement Schedule

The series of NHL Trophy finalist announcements continues Thursday, May 2, when the three finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy will be unveiled.

Source: nhl.com

TORONTO (May 13, 2022) The National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today the three finalists for the 2021-22 Ted Lindsay Award are defenceman Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, forward Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and forward Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. The TLA is presented annually “to the most outstanding player in the NHL,” as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Josi is seeking his first TLA as a first-time finalist, while McDavid is looking to receive his second consecutive and fourth TLA in six seasons, and Matthews is vying for his first TLA after finishing as a finalist last season. Each of the three finalists contributed exceptional individual seasons to help their respective teams reach the playoffs Josi led all defencemen in points, McDavid captured his fourth Art Ross Trophy and Matthews won his second Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy. Earlier this week, Josi was also announced as a finalist for the James Norris Trophy, and Matthews and McDavid were each named finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy.

The 2021-22 TLA recipient will be announced later this spring during the Stanley Cup Playoffs (exact date TBD). Formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, the TLA is the namesake of the first president of the original Players’ Association and NHLPA pioneer, Ted Lindsay. This season marks the 51st presentation of the award.

The three TLA finalists received the most votes from their fellow players based on their 2021-22 regular-season campaigns, and are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

ROMAN JOSI, Nashville Predators

Josi played in 80 of Nashville’s 82 regular-season games during the 2021-22 season to help the Predators to their eighth consecutive playoff appearance. He scored 96 points to set a franchise record in the category and a single-season record for points recorded by a European defenceman, while he led both the Predators and NHL defencemen in assists (73) and shots (281). Among league blueliners, he ranked first in even-strength points (59), power-play goals (11), points per game (1.20), multi-point games (26) and primary assists (36), and he finished second in goals (23) and power-play points (37). The 31-year-old native of Bern, Switzerland, placed fourth in the league in total ice time (2,044:21), averaging 25:33 TOI/GP. Josi is only the third defenceman in 22 years to be voted a finalist (Brent Burns, 2016-17; and Chris Pronger, 1999-00). He is also the first TLA finalist in Nashville’s franchise history. Josi is looking to follow Bobby Orr (1974-75) as only the second defenceman to receive the TLA.

AUSTON MATTHEWS, Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews played in 73 of Toronto’s 82 regular-season games to help the Maple Leafs place second in the Atlantic Division with a franchise-best 115-point season. He scored 60 goals to win his second consecutive Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy setting a Maple Leafs’ franchise record as well as a single-season record for the most goals scored by an American-born player. The 24-year-old native of Scottsdale, Arizona, led the league in even-strength goals (44), goals per game (0.82) and shots (348), and he tied for sixth in league scoring (106 points). Matthews placed second in points per game (1.45), tied for third in even-strength points (77) and he finished fifth in game-winning goals (10). He also recorded career-best marks in power-play goals (16) and face-off win percentage (56.22). A TLA finalist for the second season in a row, Matthews is looking to become the first Maple Leafs player and second American-born player (Patrick Kane, 2015-16) to receive the award.

CONNOR MCDAVID, Edmonton Oilers

McDavid played in 80 of Edmonton’s 82 regular-season games to help lead the Oilers to a second-place finish in the Pacific Division and their third consecutive playoff berth. The 25-year-old native of Newmarket, Ontario, led the league with a career-high 123 points to win his fourth Art Ross Trophy and second in a row. McDavid led all skaters in points per game (1.54), power-play points (44) and multi-point games (45), and he tied for first in overtime goals (4). He also recorded career highs in assists (79), ranking second in the league, and goals (44). McDavid placed second among forwards in TOI/GP (22:04), and he finished second in the league in even-strength points (78) and third in primary assists (49). A three-time TLA recipient (2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21), and now a five-time finalist (also 2018-19), McDavid is looking to join Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky as the only players to receive the award four or more times.

About the Ted Lindsay Award:

The Ted Lindsay Award is unique as the only award voted on by the players themselves, carrying on the tradition established with the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1970-71. NHLPA members annually vote on the player they deem to be the most outstanding in the NHL regular season. Reintroduced in 2009-10 as the namesake of the late Ted Lindsay the Ted Lindsay Award honours his legacy as a Hall of Fame forward known for skill, tenacity, leadership and his role in establishing the original Players’ Association. For more information on the TLA, visit NHLPA.com. Join the conversation by using #TedLindsayAward.