Roman Josi Deserves Norris Trophy Consideration

Overtime Heroics Editorial

2039 days ago

The Nashville Predators have not been nearly as good as expected this season. They currently sit three points outside of a playoff spot in the West with 57 points. While the team is struggling, there is one player who certainly is not; Roman Josi. The Predators captain has been one of the best defensemen in the league this season and should be a candidate for the Norris Trophy.

Josi’s Season

Despite the Predator’s struggles this season, Josi has been one of the top defensemen in the NHL both offensively and defensively. Through 52 games this year, he has 14 goals, 37 assists, 51 points, and a plus/minus rating of +22. His 14 goals are tied for second in the league among defensemen. His 37 assists and 51 points are also good for second among D-Men. Additionally, his +22 plus/minus rating is top ten in the league among both defensemen and players in general. Without a doubt, he has been a top-three defenseman in the NHL this season. There are certainly other defensemen having great seasons as well, and I am not saying Josi should necessarily win the Norris, but he absolutely should be one of the three finalists.

Other Candidates

Josi is not the only defenseman having a spectacular season. There are a few other players well within the Norris Trophy conversation.

John Carlson– Carlson is the Norris Trophy favorite at this point, and who I think should actually win the award. He is having an outstanding season for the league-leading Washington Capitals. Through 54 games, he has scored 14 goals, 51 assists, 65 points, and has a plus/minus rating of +21. Like Josi, he’s tied for second among defensemen in goals. However, he is leading the league in both assists and points among defensemen. His plus/minus is also very comparable. Generally, these awards tend to go to players on top teams as opposed to players on teams that struggle. Washington leading the league helps Carlson’s case as well.

Victor Hedman– Hedman is proving once again why he is one of the best defensemen in the NHL. Through 51 games played this season, he has nine goals, 33 assists, 42 points, and a +13 plus/minus rating. Hedman and the Lightning got off to a slow start this season, but have really turned it on over the last couple of months. The Lightning have once again pushed towards the top of the Eastern Conference, and he is a big reason why.

Alex Pietrangelo– Pietrangelo is backing up a Stanley Cup-winning season with another outstanding year in St. Louis. He has 13 goals, 30 assists, 43 points, and a +6 plus/minus rating on the season. He is the number one defenseman on the Western Conference-leading Blues and vital to his team’s success. I don’t think Pietrangelo’s Norris case is as strong as Josi’s or Carlson’s, but he absolutely belongs in the discussion.

Conclusion

Overall, I think John Carlson is the Norris Trophy favorite this year and should probably win the award. However, Roman Josi has a very strong case of his own. Even though the Predators have not been the great team so many thought they would be this season, Josi has not been the problem. He has been one of the top defensemen in the league all season long. He may not win the award this season, but he certainly should be in the conversation. Without a doubt, Roman Josi should be one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy come the awards ceremony in June.

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