NHL announces 2023 Norris Trophy finalists

The National Hockey League is announcing finalists for all of their end of season awards this week. On Thursday, it revealed the three players who are up for the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman. In the running are Adam Fox of the New York Rangers, Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche.

Fox has quickly become known as one of the best offensive defensemen in the league, and his 72 points in 82 games are proof of that. He has also become a well-rounded defender and is regularly on the ice for the Rangers against the other team’s top players, and he routinely takes over the play when he is on the ice. He also averaged more than two minutes of ice time per game while his team was short-handed, proving he can be counted on in all situations. The 25-year-old has already won a Norris Trophy once, for the 2020-21 season, and is now up for the award for the second time after playing just his fourth NHL campaign.

Karlsson had an incredible bounce-back season for the Sharks. After scoring 97 points in 158 games combined over the previous three seasons, the 32-year-old defenseman had his best season yet by scoring 25 goals and 101 points. This was the first time a defenseman reached 100 points since Brian Leetch did so with the New York Rangers 31 years ago. Karlsson’s game is geared heavily toward offense and not as much toward defense, which could cost him in his quest for a third Norris Trophy after winning the award in 2011-12 and 2014-15 seasons. However, it is hard to argue the value of a defenseman who can score 101 points.

Makar has stormed onto the NHL scene much like Fox did. Once they arrived, they immediately became stars. The 24-year-old defender won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie for the 2019-20 season, the Conn Smythe in 2022 as playoffs MVP and took home the Norris Trophy last season. He was limited to 60 games this season, but made his mark by scoring 17 goals and 66 points while being a tremendous defensive presence as well. No one in the entire NHL averaged more time on ice per game than Makar’s 26:23 per contest, and he is among the league’s best in all situations.

The Norris Trophy will be handed out on June 26 at the NHL Awards ceremony.