September is finally here.
This, of course, means it's time to get underway with the season preview posts.
In this edition of the hotstove we'll be predicting the 2015-16 Norris Trophy winner.
Todd Cordell: Kris Letang I'm going to go against the grain a little bit and say Kris Letang. To me Letang has been one of the most under appreciated stars in hockey over the last few years because Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby get all the attention.
In saying that Letang is one of the best blue liners in hockey and - if he can stay healthy - he is my pick to win the Norris this season.
Letang is an elite point producer - and possession driver - and with the additions of Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino and Eric Fehr, among others, the Penguins will score even more goals than we're accustomed to seeing. Letang is going to put up a ton of points as a result.
I think Letang is in line for a huge year and he'll win the Norris as a result.
John Jaeckel: Victor Hedman First of all, he's the total package from a size and skill standpoint. Secondly, I think he learned a lot in the long playoff run concluded this past June by the Lightning. And I think he learned a lot about how to maximize his unique gifts at both ends of the ice.
it was only once Joel Quenneville shuffled his lines and worked some home-ice advantage that Patrick Kane was freed up toward the latter part of the Finals. Until that point, Hedman had Kane's number like few others ever have.
And the Lighting are clearly a team on the rise, who will play a bigger role in the spotlight of national tv—garnering more exposure for Hedman as well.
This guy is like Drago in Rocky IV, the ultimate defensive machine. This will be the first of many Norrises for him.
Tim Chiasson: Erik Karlsson Karlsson is the best offensive defender in the NHL and his defensive game continues to grow as an underrated aspect of his game. The fact is that offensive numbers are highly regarded for the Norris Trophy and there isn't anyone in the NHL that can do what Karlsson can do in the offensive zone as well as he does it.
He'll also have a healthy Marc Methot to start the season - something he lacked last year. When Methot came back, so did Karlsson's high-flying ways. This is Karlsson's trophy to lose, and I can't envision how that happens - regardless of what the Senators do in the regular season.
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