Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman was awarded his first career Norris Trophy, Wednesday night. Hedman was named on 163 of 164 ballots, and received 94 first-place votes.
Capitals pivot John Carlson, who led all NHL defenseman in points this season, finished fifth in voting, receiving three first place votes.
Carlson tallied career highs in goals (15), assists (53), and points (68) this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Capitals defenseman has received votes for the Norris Trophy in years prior, but this is the highest he’s ever finished in voting.
Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won his first career James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the defenseman demonstrating “the greatest all-around ability in the position,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Hedman was named on 163 of 164 ballots, including 94 first-place votes, in accumulating 1,385 voting points to edge second-place Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. The 2015-16 Norris Trophy winner found support on 160 ballots, including 52 first-place tallies, for 1,164 points. Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, the 2012-13 Norris winner, finished third with 565 points.
Hedman shared first place among NHL defensemen with a career-high 17 goals, tied for the second-most in one season by a Lightning blueliner (behind Dan Boyle: 20 in 2006-07). He also ranked fifth among League defensemen with 63 points, becoming the first blueliner in team history to top 60 points in multiple campaigns (16‑56—72 in 2016-17). Hedman established a career high with a +32 rating, ranking sixth in the League and second among defensemen, and also set personal bests in time on ice per game (25:51) and total time on ice (1,990:30), placing fifth and ninth overall, respectively.
The 27-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native, who finished third in Norris Trophy voting last season in his first appearance as a finalist, is the first player in Tampa Bay history to win the award.
Headline photo: Cara Bahniuk
