The Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL's best defenseman, is one of the most coveted awards in hockey. With the regular season winding down, it's time to take a closer look at the top contenders for the Norris Trophy and their odds of winning. This year's list of contenders includes Erik Karlsson, Cale Makar, Adam Fox, Rasmus Dahlin, and Josh Morrissey, each of whom has had a standout season and is in the running for the award.
However, with playoff spots still up for grabs, the question remains whether their teams will make it to the postseason, and how that will impact their chances of winning the Norris Trophy. In this article, we will take a closer look at each of the top contenders, their odds of winning, and what factors may influence the outcome of the award.
Erik Karlsson (+280)
Since the season began, Erik Karlsson has been leading all defenseman in points. The two-time Norris Trophy winner has 66 points in 51 games heading into the All-Star break, but does he have the staying power to remain the favorite to win the Norris Trophy?
San Jose is not going to make the playoffs, and unless Karlsson keeps a big gap between him and the rest of the pack, it’ll hurt his chances. There have only been five Norris Trophy winners whose team did not qualify for the playoffs. Karlsson is on that list, but when he won the award with Ottawa in 2012, he finished with 25 points more than any other defenseman.