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Todd Cordell
For my money Erik Karlsson is the best defenseman in the NHL by a semi-wide margin and is the easiest choice to make. In saying that he was almost inarguably the best in the league last season and he still didn't win the Norris.
My pick for the upcoming season is P.K. Subban. Despite all the talk about his 'down' season in 2015-16 he still managed 51 points in 68 while playing for a highly mediocre Montreal team. After being traded in a one-for-one deal he'll have extra motivation to silence his doubters and I think he will do just that.
One thing that works in his favor is Peter Laviolette coaches an up-tempo system and encourages his blue liners to jump into the play and get involved offensively. That is perfect for Subban.
I think he's going to log a ton of minutes, drive play, and put up 55-60+ points this season. If he does that he'll have a good chance of earning himself some hardware.
Matt Henderson
PK Subban wins the Norris and takes it back to Montreal when he visits the wing of the Children's Hospital that's named after him. The man is going to have a much better surrounding cast. The Preds are a better team than the Habs. I think Subban is going to finish the year and people will claim that he's re-focused on his defensive game even though it's just the product of being on a better team. He's going from the 25th ranked PP to the 10th ranked PP. It's all there. He should have a chance to score even more and look better defensively. Add in a redemption story and Norris voters will fall over themselves calling PK the greatest.
Adam French
Whilst I am somebody who is a huge fan of Drew Doughty and his play. I have to say he did win his Legacy Award last year.
Karlsson is obviously the easy answer. Aside from maybe two years that I can think of, the offensive defenseman of the year wins every time...or the offensive defenseman of the year that also has the reputation (earned generally) for being great in their own zone. See Keith. If he doesn't score 60 points, he doesn't get nominated. Chara too, he hits high points, wow suddenly he's okay! Karlsson is the best offensive defenseman in the game and looking like the best of out generation. His defensive game is not as bad as haters put forward, yet his reputation has not increased with his growth as a player among the voting public...a voting public under a lot of fire for giving the award simply to the best offensive defender...which I think was a main point in Doughty's win.
I think Letang stays healthy and wins it. He has the reputation of a good defensive player. He plays physical and has big hits. He's the top defender on a top contender. He plays the PP (sometimes with mediocrity to be honest despite his insane skill) with Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and so on. Healthy, he has been a top-3 defender these past 4 years. Health however is not on his side and like it or not the games played tends to be an important point for the voters. That said...I think he wins it. He will put up his ridiculous amount of points, yet likely fall behind Karlsson. He will likely be around as good defensively (if a bit better). His team will be a playoff contending leader. Plus his reputation will fit the entire bill for the writers. It's the perfect storm and it will happen...or he will have some kind of knuckle issue and miss 30 games.
My pick. Kris Letang.
James Tanner
It's difficult to predict who will win a Trophy that almost never goes to the right player. Erik Karlsson was robbed of what should have his fourth Norris Trophy in the last five years ( he really only has two) when it went to Drew Doughty in June.
Since Erik Karlsson can apparently only win the trophy when his team makes the Playoffs, that means he probably isn't going to win it next year either.
Since the Sens aren't making the Playoffs and the voters are unlikely to realize how wrong it is to withhold individual trophies for team-related problems, I predict the 2017 Norris will go to P.K Subban, who's Predators should challenge for the President's Trophy.
Peter Tessier
My heart wants it to be PK Subban just for the knife back at the ridiculous Hab's management's heart but something tells me that unless he does something outrageously better than everyone else he will be snubbed for even consideration again.
In reality I think the challenge comes down between Karlsson and Doughty with Mr. Ekblad looking in too. The Norris is such a funny award because it seems so much is based on impression rather than evidence. With the NHL becoming a game that values puck movement more than anything else Karlsson should be the Norris winner again.
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