Norris Trophy

Why John Carlson didn’t win the Norris Trophy

For many Capitals fans, Roman Josi winning the Norris Trophy on Monday was a complete surprise. “Robbed,” said one Twitter user. “John Carlson snubbed again,” wrote another.

But the Norris Trophy is “awarded…to the NHL’s top defense player who demonstrates…the greatest all-round ability.” Sassy emphasis mine. Carlson’s dashboard stats were awesome, but below the surface were some concerning defensive numbers that ultimately sunk his candidacy.

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By Ian Oland 4 months ago

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Roman Josi wins Norris Trophy as NHL’s top defenseman over John Carlson

Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi is the winner of the 2020 Norris Trophy. Paul Coffey, one of the stars of the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty teams in the 1980s, announced Josi the winner on Zoom. The NHL Awards show was hosted from the Edmonton bubble where the Stanley Cup Final is being held.

The Norris Trophy is “awarded annually to the National Hockey League’s top defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”

Josi edged out the Capitals’ John Carlson, who was runner up, and the Lightning’s Victor Hedman. Surprisingly, it wasn’t close.

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By Ian Oland 4 months ago

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John Carlson named a finalist for Norris Trophy

The NHL announced that John Carlson is a finalist for the Norris Trophy on Monday. The Norris Trophy is “awarded annually to the National Hockey League’s top defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.” Nashville’s Roman Josi and Tampa’s Victor Hedman were also voted into the top three.

According to Mike Vogel, Carlson is only the fifth Capitals player in team history to be voted a finalist for the Norris Trophy and could join Rod Langway as the only other player in franchise player to win it (1983 and 1984). Most recently, Mike Green was named a finalist in back-to-back years (2009, 2010), but did not win either season.

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By Ian Oland 6 months ago

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John Carlson voted as Norris Trophy winner at midseason by PHWA

The Professional Hockey Writers Association (which RMNB is not a part of) has announced its midseason winners of NHL awards. The PHWA is the voting body behind most of the NHL’s trophies at season’s end.

John Carlson, who leads all NHL defensemen with 60 points (13g, 47a) in 49 games, is the Norris Trophy winner at midseason. The Norris Trophy is awarded to the “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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John Carlson finishes fourth in Norris Trophy voting

After a strong 2018-19 season, Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting. The news was made public in an NHL release during the league’s award show in Las Vegas.

35-year-old Mark Giordano of the Calgary Flames won the Norris after receiving 165 of 171 first-place votes. Brent Burns and Victor Hedman were the runner ups.

But the story for Capitals fans is just how close Carlson was to becoming a Norris Trophy finalist for the first time in his career.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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John Carlson finishes fifth in 2017-18 Norris Trophy voting

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.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Caps’ John Carlson misses the finalist cut for the Norris Trophy

Thursday afternoon, the NHL announced the finalists for the Norris Trophy, the award given to the best defenseman in the league. The Capitals’ John Carlson, the league leader in points from the blue line, was not included.

Los Angeles’ Drew Doughty, Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman, and Nashville’s PK Subban were the three defensemen named finalists by the league.

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By Brendan Doyle 3 years ago

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Dmitry Orlov receives fifth-place vote for Norris Trophy

Wednesday night, San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns won the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the defender who demonstrated “the greatest all-around ability in the position.” But I want to point out to you who tied for 21st in voting: Dmitry Orlov.

Orlov was one of only 23 defensemen who garnered votes.

The 25-year-old Russian had the best season of his career, finishing on the team’s top pairing with Matt Niskanen. Orlov had a career high in points (33) and dominated in possession, registering a 54.32 shot attempts percentage at even-strength.

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By Ian Oland 4 years ago

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Handicapping The 2009-10 Norris Trophy

Mike Green shoots. Mike Green Scores. (Photo by Greg Fiume)

Schultz For Norris? (Illustration by @megHamonster)

Schultz For Norris? Maybe next year, Sarge. (Illustration by @megHamonster)

The Norris Trophy sounds simple to award: “The James Norris Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”

Not surprisingly, it seems the voters (Professional Hockey Writers’ Association) use how many points a defenseman scores in the season as the “offensive component” when looking for their winner. Since the 1997-8 season, only last year’s winner (Zdeno Chara) has been out of the Top 10 in Points for defensemen – and he wasn’t out by much, ranking 12th.

A defenseman’s Plus/Minus factors in to the voting as the “defensive component.” In the same time frame, all but two winners had a Plus/Minus less than 10 – Nicklas Lidstrom in 2000-1 had a +9 and Rob Blake in 1997-8 had a -3 (the only other winner of the Norris with a negative Plus/Minus was Randy Carlyle in 1980-1). And you would have to go back to when the “Secretary of Defense” won the first of his two Norris Trophies to find another winner with a Plus/Minus not in the double digits.

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By 11 years ago

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