Todd Cordell
Erik Karlsson.
Last season he missed training camp, played the season adjusting to a piece of missing bone in his ankle, and he *still* put up 62 points in 71 games while leading all defenders in Goals Above Replacement – and he did that on a horrendous Ottawa team.
He's the best defenseman in the NHL, he's back to full health, and he's in a contract year. I think he is going to have another truly spectacular season regardless of where he ends up playing, although a trade to a team with a better supporting cast would certainly help his cause.
Honorable mention goes to Seth Jones. I think he deserved to be a Norris finalist last season and I expect he will be one this season. He has the rare combination of size, speed, and skill teams dream about.
James Tanner This year's Norris Trophy will be going to Seth Jones. Jones is already bordering on being one of the best defenseman in the NHL. He just missed 60 points last season, and this year he will take steps towards becoming the best defenseman in the NHL, and he'll win the Norris.
He could have won it last year and I don't think anyone would have questioned it, so it's only a matter of time. He's in his age 24 season and we should be expecting big things.
Peter Tessier Pre pre-season picks are always fun but if I had to take stab at it I'd shortlist down to names like Doughty, Subban, Hedman, Hamilton, Burns and even Giordano. These are known names and former winners or candidates. What no Karlsson? Yeah, it's not that he's dropped off but I don't see Norris playing in him this year with the Ottawa clouds over his head.
So to make it shorter I'm going with Hedman. I think what he has around him in Tampa is the best situation and unlike Subban who has Josi and Ellis with him, Hedman stands above his mates. It's a wild ass guess but let's see if he repeats.
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