Trophy Tracker: Norris

To mark the quarter point of the 2021-22 regular season, NHL.com is running its second installment of the Trophy Tracker series this week. Today, we look at the race for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the top defenseman in the NHL as selected in a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Roman Josi scored his fewest goals (eight) and points (33) last season since 2012-13 and was minus-11, his worst mark in his 10 NHL seasons, but the Nashville Predators defenseman has bounced back in a big way.
Josi ranks fifth in points (21) among defensemen and third in goals (seven) in 23 games this season. His 10 power-play points led the position and he's among the NHL leaders in total ice time and average ice time per game.
"I feel good this year," Josi said after scoring four points (two goals, two assists) in a 4-1 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 13. "I think it's been going well and obviously it's always hard to compare years to years but I definitely feel good. I think last year, I said it before, I wasn't too happy with my year and I knew I kind of had another level and it's been a good start. … I definitely feel better about my game than I did last year for sure."
Josi won the Norris Trophy in 2019-20 with NHL career-highs in goals (16), assists (49) and points (65) and was plus-22 in 69 games. A panel of 17 NHL.com writers expect him to win it this season.
"You know, he looks very similar (to 2019-20)," Predators coach Jon Hynes said Nov. 30. "What I mean by that is that year, you could see the speed, his ability to make plays, his endurance. He plays a game that is a high-energy game. He looks that way now. His decision-making, his offensive play, I think his commitment to defend has been strong.

"I'd say maybe last year that it didn't seem right out of the gates that he had the same strength and speed that he is playing with now. When he does that, because he's such a smart hockey player, and has great instincts, it allows him to be able to make the plays he can."
Josi received 59 points, including six first-place votes to edge Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers, who received 55 points and five first-place votes. New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, who won the Norris last season, finished third with 47 points and two first-place votes. Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche each received two first-place votes.
"It's nice to see [Josi] be able to get rewarded for a lot of the effort that he's putting in," Hynes said Nov. 13. "He's a difficult guy. He can beat you in so many ways. He's a great skater, he's got great puck skills, he's got a fantastic shot, got great instincts. He is one of those guys in the League that when the puck is on his stick, he sees plays that sometimes other people don't or he can make plays that most guys can't, and that's what makes him a special player."
Prior to 2020-21, Josi had finished in the top five in Norris voting in three of the previous six seasons. Since 2015-16, he ranks fourth in points (337), third in goals (86), fifth in power-play goals (31) and eighth in average ice time per game (25:05) among defensemen entering play Thursday.
"He's an elite player in this league," Predators forward Eeli Tolvanen said Nov. 30. "He's part of the rush every time he's on the ice, so it's easy on the breakouts. You know there's a fourth guy going on the weak side. You can always give him the puck, and he's going to take care that it's going into the offensive zone. So I think it's a big help for our forwards."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, 59 points (six first-place votes); Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, 55 points (five first-place votes); Adam Fox, New York Rangers, 47 (two first place votes); Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 45 (two first-place votes); Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, 18 (two first-place votes); Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins, 8; Kevin Shattenkirk, Anaheim Ducks, 6; Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets, 4; Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars, 4; John Carlson, Washington Capitals, 2; Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 2; Darnell Nurse, Edmonton Oilers, 2; Tony DeAngelo, Carolina Hurricanes, 2; Dougie Hamilton, New Jersey Devils, 1
NHL.com independent correspondent John Glennon contributed to this report