Victor Hedman has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy in each of the past four seasons, and all indications are he'll again be a top contender for the award this season.
The defenseman helped the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanley Cup last season and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 22 points (10 goals, 12 assists) with a plus-13 rating and an average of 26:28 of ice time in 25 games.
A panel of 19 NHL.com writers expect Hedman to pick up where he left off and selected him as the favorite to win his second Norris Trophy (also 2017-18).
"[Hedman] has grown as a leader, and then when [forward Steven Stamkos] wasn't able to be around, [Hedman] stepped to the forefront," coach Jon Cooper said after the Lightning won the Cup. "And just to watch this guy grow, it's remarkable."
Hedman received 74 points, including 10 first-place votes, to finish ahead of Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, who won the Norris last season; Josi finished second with 45 points and received two first-place votes. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year last season, finished third with 38 points and received one first-place vote.
Seth Jones of the Columbus Blue Jackets received three first-place votes, and John Carlson (Washington Capitals), Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars) and Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues) each received one.
The 10 goals Hedman scored in the playoffs -- which included three game-winners -- were one fewer than he scored in 66 regular-season games last season.
"I thought about it a lot during the break (after the regular season)," Hedman said in September. "It was, 'What can I improve in my game?' and that's shooting the puck. Some of them found the net."
Hedman has been the standard among NHL defensemen for the better part of the past decade. He's scored at least 10 goals in each of the past seven seasons and at least 54 points (including 22 or more power-play points) in each of the past four. But it's not only his offense that has stood out.
The 11-season NHL veteran was one of 16 skaters to average more than 24 minutes per game last season (24:04), and his 47 takeaways were the third most in his career.
"With the skating stride, the mobility, the positioning, he's the best in the National Hockey League," NHL Network analyst Ken Daneyko said. "… I don't think there is a comparison, he is the best defenseman in the National Hockey League."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Victor Hedman, Lightning, 74 points (10 first-place votes); Roman Josi, Predators, 45 points (two first-place votes); Cale Makar, Avalanche, 38 points (one first-place vote); Seth Jones, Blue Jackets, 32 points (three first-place votes); John Carlson, Capitals, 21 points (one first-place vote); Miro Heiskanen, Stars, 21 points (one first-place vote); Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden Knights, 20 points; Dougie Hamilton, Carolina Hurricanes, 9 points; Colton Parayko, Blues, 8 points (one first-place vote); Shea Theodore, Golden Knights, 7 points; Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 6 points; Shea Weber, Montreal Canadiens, 2 points; Ivan Provorov, Philadelphia Flyers, 1 point; Erik Karlsson, San Joe Sharks, 1 point
