NHL awards 2021-22: Odds, greatest bets, predictions for Norris Trophy

The 2021-22 NHL season is simply across the nook and, whereas the awards will not be handed out for a handful of months, the controversy is already raging concerning who will take residence the {hardware}.

Final yr noticed a number of anticipated names in Connor McDavid (Hart Trophy), Auston Matthews (Rocket Richard Trophy) and Aleksander Barkov (Selke Trophy). There have been a bunch of surprises, akin to Marc-Andre Fleury profitable his first Vezina (then getting traded) and sophomore defenseman Adam Fox profitable the Norris. A few winners went wire to wire, together with Kirill Kaprizov’s Calder Trophy twirl.

What the upcoming season will deliver is anybody’s guess, however count on these names talked about above — and a pair extra — are within the conversations. Sporting Information breaks down the discuss heading into the brand new season with predictions, odds and the perfect bets for the Norris Trophy. The award is given to the league’s prime defenseman and voted on by the members of the Skilled Hockey Writers Affiliation.

ODDS, PREDICTIONS: Stanley Cup | Calder | Vezina

Norris Trophy greatest bets

The Norris Trophy has rapidly developed right into a younger stars trophy. Final yr, Adam Fox — in solely his second season — captured the award. Fellow sophomore Cale Makar got here in second. These two needs to be among the many prime contenders in 2021-22, alongside the third finalist from final season, Victor Hedman. The Lightning defenseman, by the best way, has been a finalist for 3 straight years after profitable it in 2018. Dougie Hamilton needs to be a robust contender regardless of being in a brand new system, in addition to one other younger defenseman who has grow to be the principle man on the Bruins blueline: Charlie McAvoy. The one participant who may knock all these offensive defensemen off the highest spot is Jaccob Slavin, who would simply win the award for greatest defensive defenseman if it ever got here to fruition.

SN’s Norris Trophy darkish horse prediction: Darnell Nurse

The Oilers defenseman’s recreation continues to develop, evolve and simply get higher and higher over time. In 2021 he completed seventh within the Norris Trophy voting after a 2021 marketing campaign that noticed him gather 36 factors and a formidable plus-27. His 16 objectives weren’t solely a career-high, but additionally ranked second within the NHL amongst D-men, behind Jakob Chychrun’s 18. And he was fourth in ice time (25:38) amongst all skaters. He is not a prime offensive defenseman like Hedman — and even teammate Tyson Barrie, who had probably the most factors about blueliners in 2021 — however Nurse does have a strong two-way recreation that might see his title rise to the highest of some ballots come voting time.

MORE: Top 25 under 25 in 2021-22

SN’s Norris Trophy prediction: Adam Fox

He’ll be pushed by the likes of Cale Makar, however there is not any purpose to suppose Fox will not repeat in 2022. Sure, the Rangers have a brand new coach and certain a brand new gameplan, however the 23-year-old is a star. In simply two profession seasons, he has posted back-to-back 40-plus factors (42 as a rookie and 47 in 2021 in simply 55 video games). His ice time jumped up virtually six minutes to 24:42 per recreation final season whereas he bought extra defensive zone begins, per Hockey Reference.

2021-22 Norris Trophy winner odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings.