NHL awards: Predicting the 2019-20 Norris Trophy winner

With so many promising defensemen in the NHL, it’s hard to guess who is the best. When awards are handed out at the end, who will be the Norris Trophy winner?

The 2019-20 NHL season is finally upon us. The ultimate goal, come sometime in late June, is to take home the ultimate trophy – the Stanley Cup. There are, however, other coveted trophies. Let’s talk about the Norris Trophy, for best defenseman.

As of October 1st, the odds to win the Norris Trophy, according to sportsbettingdime.com, has Brent Burns as the best bet, followed by Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman. Vegas odds are often correct, but not always. Here’s my prediction for the Norris Trophy in 2019-20.

Runner Up: Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs

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There’s so much to like here. Many people don’t even know Morgan Rielly finished fifth in voting last season, most are beginning to see just how good he actually is. The Toronto Maple Leafs are becoming an offensive juggernaut and it is no different for the young star from Vancouver. Rielly has seen his point total go up by at least 20 the past two seasons.

He hasn’t just improved his point totals either. In the past two seasons, his plus-minus has improved by +16 and +28 respectively, showing that he knows how to score as well as stop others from scoring. At only 25 years old, we’ve just scratched the surface.

It’s like many said about Drew Doughty all those years, that it was just a matter of time until he wins the trophy. There is a very good chance that one day he does win, but not quite yet. Bringing in Tyson Barrie could hurt Reilly, as so much of the voting goes toward offense.

Runner Up: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning

Victor Hedman is the only defenseman to be in the top three for voting over the last three seasons. It’s all that more impressive considering he missed 12 games last season. It seems many have forgotten since the Tavares and Hedman draft battle. He wasn’t always the offensive dynamo he’s come to be known as.

About as complete as it comes for defensemen, Hedman instills fear in his opponents at all times. You never know whether he’s going to take the puck from you by finesse or force. And it’s even worse when he has it, as there’s a great chance it’s going behind your goalie.

It’s hard not to pick the number one defenseman from the best team in the league, but I don’t think it will quite as easy for the Tampa Bay Lightning this year. The East will get more competitive. Hedman will be leaned on as hard as ever, but he’ll have to settle for another second-place finish.

Wild Card – Erik Gustafsson, Chicago Blackhawks

Not many outside the Windy City are talking about Erik Gustafsson. The Swedish product came seemingly out of nowhere to lead all Chicago Blackhawks defensemen in scoring. And he didn’t just lead them; he obliterated them, having 20 more points and almost triple the goals of the next best blueline scorer.

Whether he’ll repeat his success or not is a mystery, as his ascension was such as a surprise to almost everyone. After all, last season, he outscored his entire career totals of three seasons in the AHL and doubled his NHL career totals.

At 27 years old, Gustafsson is heading toward prime age for a defenseman. It is a position where the results are not immediate. While he probably won’t win the award or even get nominated, Gustafsson is one to watch. Perhaps others will be talking about him next season.

Winner: P.K. Subban, New Jersey Devils

That’s right. You read it correctly. I am not predicting that either of the San Jose Sharks defensemen will win. If either one of them were gone to another team, I would choose the remaining San Jose defenseman. Since they are together, however, I’m choosing neither.

Since he won the award in the lockout-shortened season of 2012-13, no other defenseman has been a Norris Trophy finalist more often than P.K. Subban. A rare cornucopia of slick hands, heavy-hitting, and a deafening slapshot, Subban has it all when it comes to a bonafide stud.

To be honest, I wouldn’t have picked him to win last season, but there is a big difference this year. Now that he’s with the New Jersey Devils, there is no Roman Josi to take the focus away from Subban. I absolutely love the young d-core of New Jersey, but Subban is just what the doctor ordered.

This season, Subban will put the team on his back. I’m betting on the Devils making the playoffs as no Norris Trophy winner has ever played on a non-playoff team the year he won. With a healthy Taylor Hall, two number one overall picks, and a slew of talent, the Devils are coming up this season and Subban will lead the way. Have I lost my mind?  I’d love to hear from you.