Norris Finalists Announced

[TK12555]

Chara, Karlsson, Weber

[Pengwin7]

The right choices.

[ericdaoust]

I wouldn't put anyone else near these three.

[habs83]

I wouldn't put anyone else near these three.

Pietrangelo is close... but still the right choices for this season

[ericdaoust]

Pietrangelo is close... but still the right choices for this season

Chara/Weber have the rare talent of changing the game at both ends and Karlsson had a dream offensive season. AP is in the 2nd tier - still amazing but a clear level below the three nominated. I get the feeling that he'll get his turn soon.

[TK12555]

Pietrangelo is close... but still the right choices for this season

yep! Piet will be here soon enough.

[blayze]

I wouldn't put anyone else near these three.

Not even Phaneuf?

[ericdaoust]

Not even Phaneuf?

OK fine let's add a fourth nominee.

[27Blue]

good choices. since christmas, AP has been better than all of them... when you look at the whole season, as this award does, AP would fall in the 3-5 range.

[kevinsrangers]

karlson has to win it. so improved from last season.

[ericdaoust]

karlson has to win it. so improved from last season.

This isn't like in 2000-01 when Brian Leetch had 79 points and lost it to Lidstrom (71 points). Karlsson is 25 points ahead of his nearest competition.

[Axeman33]

I dont think this is a cake walk for Karlsson by any means. I actually think Weber is going to win it.

If the trophy was for best offensive Dman, then it would be Karlssons, but its for best all around ability. Karlsson is an offensive dynamo but still needs to work on his defensive game. 78pt season and only a +16. Weber had 49 pts and was a +21. Chara had 52pts and was +33. I realize that isnt the only stat they look at, but it certainly says a lot.


I guess we will find out just how the voters tend to lean once the choice comes out.

[27Blue]

i, too, think that weber will probably win this award. the norris goes to the defencman with the best all-round ability in the position. karlsson has the offense, but he doesn't play defence as well as weber or chara and he doesn't kill penalties. because the writers who vote on this award have such ingrained old school views, i think that many of them will give their votes to the more complete player... right or wrong? who knows, i just think that this is how it will play out.

[Sportfreunde]

I would give it to Weber as well. They can both produce offensively which is important but Weber is far more dominant defensively. I actually think for this same reason, Pietrangelo should've been nominated instead of Karlsson. Karlsson is a B defensively, Pietrangelo's an A- at the least, both produce a lot of offense and Karlsson produces more but you have to base it more on their defence assuming both are good enough offensively.

[Axeman33]

Maybe its just me, and I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I find the league seems to want you to prove yourself first before handing you a major award like this. Karlsson has had a great year, but its his first ballot for the Norris. Consistency seems to be a big factor in voting. Again, I could be wrong in saying this as I have no proof, just my opinion.