Doughty leads Norris Trophy race at midseason

To mark the midpoint of the 2017-18 season, NHL.com is running its third installment of the Trophy Tracker series this week. Today, we look at the race for the Norris Trophy.
After winning the Stanley Cup twice in three seasons (2012, 2014), the Los Angeles Kings have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice in the past three.

That didn't sit well with defenseman Drew Doughty, who has shown he's determined to make sure that doesn't happen again, helping the Kings to a 24-13-5 record (53 points), second in the Pacific Division.
Doughty, 28, is on pace to match his best offensive season in the NHL and hasn't given up an edge defensively while playing the most minutes of anyone in the League. He has 30 points (seven goals, 23 assists) in 42 games; he had an NHL career-high 59 (16 goals, 43 assists) in 2009-10. He has a plus-21 rating (tied for third in the NHL with Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman), nine power-play points and four game-winning goals, and he leads the League in total ice time (1141:10) and ice time per game (27:10).
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"At times, guys were not having fun in past years," Doughty said. "A lot of that had to do with losing hockey games and not being a very good team and not being in the playoffs. That's the biggest difference. Everyone here is having fun."
Doughty led the League in total ice time last season (2,225:50) and in 2014-15 (2,377:40), and finished third in 2015-16 (2,297:28). He leads Kings defensemen in power-play ice time per game (3:11), and his average of 2:56 of shorthanded ice time is second behind Derek Forbort (2:57).
He's been remarkably durable, missing 16 games in 10 seasons and none since 2014-15.
"We're obviously biased, but I think he's the best D-man in the world," Los Angeles defenseman Alec Martinez said. "He competes hard. He does it at both ends and he plays every situation. He's the first guy that you want in, in every situation."
That's why a panel of 18 NHL.com staff members picked Doughty to win his second Norris Trophy (he won it in 2015-16 and has finished in the top 10 in voting each of the past five seasons). Doughty received 76 points and nine first-place votes, edging Hedman, who received 68 points (six first-place votes). Alex Pietrangelo (St. Louis Blues) earned two first-place votes, and P.K. Subban (Nashville Predators) got one.

Doughty had 51 points (14 goals, 37 assists) and was plus-24 with 24 power-play points and three game-winning goals when he won the Norris Trophy for the first time. He is on or at a better pace in most of those categories. What helps make him the leading contender for the Norris is his ability to forget the rare mistakes he makes rather quickly. After Doughty was beaten on a goal by Vancouver Canucks forward Nikolay Goldobin on Dec. 30, he scored the game-winner in a 4-3 victory.
"I don't get dangled very often," Doughty said. "Only the second time I can remember in my NHL career where I got dangled for a goal. I was pretty embarrassed and pretty (ticked) off at myself going into the third period. I knew I was going to do everything in my power to try to help us win that game."
His coach's response?
"Great players have a short memory," John Stevens said. "Not very often that happens. I wouldn't expect to see it again for a while."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1- basis):Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings, 76 points (9 first-place votes); Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 68 points (6); Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues, 43 points (2 first-place votes); John Klingberg, Dallas Stars, 26 points; P.K. Subban, Nashville Predators, 22 points (1); John Carlson, Washington Capitals, 14 points; Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, 5 points; Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, 4 points; Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks, 3 points; Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild, 3 points; Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets, 2 points; Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators, 1 point; Dougie Hamilton, Calgary Flames, 1 point; Shayne Gostisbehere, Philadelphia Flyers, 1 point; Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames, 1 point
NHL.com staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this story.