Can Avs’ Makar beat Tampa Bay’s Hedman for Norris Trophy?
Kiz: Is this a great time to be an Avalanche fan, or what? The team not only has an offensive magician worth the steep price of admission to an NHL game in center Nathan MacKinnon, but is also blessed with a young defenseman in Cale Makar, who is already shaping a Hall of Fame career at the tender age of 22. I believe it won’t be long before he’s recognized as the best defenseman in the league. But is it too soon for Makar to win the Norris Trophy this season?
Chambers: No. He’s the Connor McDavid of defensemen and he’s got my No. 1 vote right now, and Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman is probably No. 2. The Rangers’ Adam Fox, Washington’s John Carlson and Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang will also get a lot of votes. The Norris is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and I am a voter this year (not every member can cast a vote). This year, because of the all-divisional play, the PHWA has compiled a list of
100 voters split evenly between the divisions. I think Makar will get most of the No. 1 votes from the West, and a lot from western Canadian voters. The voting is due during the first round of the playoffs.
Kiz: All voting for awards, from the hockey rink to Hollywood, is political by nature. So while Makar can be dazzling on the ice, 30-year-old Victor Hedman has a far more decorated resume. In addition to being a Norris finalist four times, claiming the award in 2018, Hedman won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, after the Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup. OK, my friend: Make the case why Makar is more deserving of the Norris than Hedman.
Chambers: Makar is unique in nature and he leads all defensemen in pointsper-game at 1.05; next closest is our old friend Tyson Barrie at 0.87, and Barrie won’t win it because his defensive skill set isn’t all there. The only reason Makar isn’t a big favorite right now is that he missed 11 games in a 15-game span from mid-February to mid-March. The Norris is the defenseman “who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position,” so Makar’s injury absence hurts. But he’s got three remaining games this week and if he further climbs the defensive scoring chart and into the top two (he’s currently sixth, just four points behind the lead), he’ll get a ton of Norris votes despite his extended absence.
Kiz: Is an Avs fan willing to wager Makar will win the Norris a savvy investor or foolishly betting from the heart? Depending on where you shop for gambling action, Hedman is a prohibitive, better-than-even-money favorite to win the award. And I’ve seen Adam Fox, who plays defense for the Rangers in a dominant media market, listed at 9/2. Makar is a dark horse at 9/1. While I respect any vote for Makar, I don’t see him adding the Norris to his trophy case this year.
Chambers: Hedman is indeed the favorite. He’s the typical Norris guy — big and strong, intimidating, plays in all situations. But nobody skates and stick-handles as well as Makar, who is now killing penalties and averaging more than 24 minutes a game. No other defenseman can make a 200-foot rush like Makar. Hey, Makar was minus-8 in a recent four-game stretch that included the Avs’ threegame losing streak. He’s not perfect. But I believe if every team in the league had to pick one defenseman to build around, it would be Makar. The Norris conversation is a good one, and I, like you, believe Hedman is probably going to win. But Makar is bound to win it more than anyone in the next 10 years.