Josi Named NHL's First Star of the Month

Roman Josi had himself a month - and once again, the hockey world took notice.
Nashville's captain has been named the NHL's First Star of the Month for March after producing one of the best 14-game spans by a defenseman the league has ever seen. This marks just the second time in franchise history a member of the Preds has been named the First Star of the Month; Pekka Rinne earned the accolade back in November of 2016.
Josi's best week of the month came back in the middle of March - a three-game stretch that saw him post a trio of assists in each outing - and he received the NHL's First Star of the Week nod as a result. Those numbers only continued throughout the month, and it's easy to see why Josi remains the favorite to win the Norris Trophy as the best blueliner in the League.
And now, prepare to be amazed once more.

Josi had 28 points in March and became just the third defenseman in NHL history to accumulate as many in a calendar month - following Paul Coffey (3x) and Bobby Orr (2x). He also recorded four straight games with at least three points (2g-11a) from March 13-19, and Orr (6 GP in 1970-71) is the only other defenseman in NHL history to accomplish the feat.
Josi recorded a career-best 13-game point streak (4g-23a) from March 2-27 and became the first active defenseman to record multiple point streaks of at least 10 games in his career and first since Nicklas Lidstrom (1999-00 and 2010-11).
Nashville's captain also reached the 70-point mark in his 59th game of the season. Only six defensemen in NHL history have reached the 70-point mark in fewer games: Coffey (7x; last: 54 GP in 1990-91), Orr (6x; last: 37 GP in 1974-75), Denis Potvin (3x; last: 51 GP in 1978-79), Brian Leetch (57 GP in 1991-92), Phil Housley (57 GP in 1991-92) and Al MacInnis (57 GP in 1990-91).
"He's so good," Preds centerman Ryan Johansen said last month on Josi. "It's ridiculous. He's Roman 'Franchise-Record-Breaker' Josi. He's just bringing it every night, and he's our captain. He's our leader, and he's doing it on the ice every game, and not only offensively, but defensively as well in all the key situations. I'm proud of him, and it's great to see him doing his thing out there."
As for the entire record-breaking season, Josi continues to lead NHL defensemen and is tied for ninth in the NHL in points with 81 (18g-63a). He's established career highs in goals (18), assists (63) and points (81). His 18 goals are the third-most among NHL blueliners; he is tied for second among all NHL skaters in assists.
Josi's 63 assists are the most in a season in Predators history, and his 81 points are the most by a defenseman - and the second-most among all skaters - in a season in team history. He's the second player in Predators history to record at least 80 points in a season, joining Paul Kariya, who had a franchise-best 85 points (31g-54a) in 2005-06.
Josi has joined four others on the list of NHL defensemen to record at least 81 points in a season since 1995-96: Leetch (85 in 1995-96); Brent Burns (83 in 2018-19); Ray Bourque (82 in 1995-96); and Erik Karlsson (82 in 2015-16).
Josi is the fifth different defenseman in the last 25 years to record 60 assists in a season, joining John Carlson (2019-20 with Washington); Burns (2018-19 with San Jose); Karlsson (2015-16 with Ottawa); and Lidstrom (2005-06 and 2007-08 with Detroit). He became the sixth different defenseman in NHL history to reach 75 points through 60 games and the first since 1990-91 when Coffey (21g-56a-77pts) and MacInnis (22g-53a-75pts) did so.
Josi has tallied four four-point games this season, the first defenseman to do so since Kevin Hatcher in 1992-93; no other NHL blueliner has more than one in 2021-22. He's also posted 10 games with at least three points, the most among NHL defensemen; he's recorded 22 multi-point games, tied for the most among League blueliners.
Sure sounds like a Norris winner, doesn't it?
"Roman Josi is the best defenseman in the game," Preds Head Coach John Hynes said last month. "You look at what he means to this team and what he means to the franchise night in and night out - we're a very good team, and Roman is an All-Star player, a superstar player on our team, and how he goes is how our team goes. When you look around the League and you look at other defenseman, I'm not so sure that there's a player that impacts their team and their organization the way that Roman does.
"Roman's having an unbelievable season. I think he's a great ambassador for the game, and I think what you do see, not only on the points - when you look at the points between him and a couple other guys, he's right there - but if you look at a Norris Trophy winner, his ability to defend, his ability to play on the penalty kill, his ability to produce points, his ability to lead a team; when your top player drives your team the way that he does, I don't know if there's another comparable."