Day 2 of the Award Nominees... the Norris Trophy for Best Defenseman. I am actually quite fond of the idea that there should be two defenseman awards, one for the best defensive and one for the best offensive. I will side with the arguments that the determination of the best defender is very vague. Since we all try to determine who the best overall defenseman is, the value on either side of the puck is different from person to person. For this year's nominee's, I'm gonna list them by points... it's just easier that way.
Leading the way for defenders in scoring this season was
Mike Green of the Capitals. Green finished the season with 31 goals and 42 assists in 68 games for the Capitals, finishing over a point-per-game. That's quite the remarkable stat for a defenseman. Green may have some flaws when it comes to his defensive game, but he did finish with a very respectable +24 rating and a shorthanded goal.
What a surprise!
Nicklas Lidstrom returns to the Norris Trophy voting again this year. Lidstrom finished third among defensemen scorers, picking up 16 goals and 43 assists in 78 games this season. Lidstrom also finished with the third highest +/- among defenders with a +31 rating in the league. That could be considered to be very good in the all-around sense.
Finally, it's the usual bridesmaid looking for some redemption this year.
Zdeno Chara finished 11th among defensive scorers with 50 points in 80 games and finished tied for seventh in +/- with a +23 rating. Of the three nominees, Chara does spend more time on the ice for his team, averaging just over 26 minutes on the ice. He is also far and away the most active hitter of the three, registering 169 hits in 2009.
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