Las Vegas, NV (Sports Network) - Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson
was chosen as the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy which recognizes
the NHL's top defenseman.
Karlsson led all blueliners in scoring with 78 points, posting 19 goals and 59
assists in 81 games. He registered 25 points more than the second-leading
scorer among blueliners, the widest margin since Pittsburgh's Paul Coffey had
a 38-point differential in 1988-89.
The 22-year-old Swede helped Ottawa to the eighth seed in the Eastern
Conference playoffs. He posted a plus-16 rating and became the youngest
defenseman with at least 78 points since Coffey scored 96 with Edmonton in
1982-83.
Nashville's Shea Weber and Zdeno Chara of Boston were the other finalists.
Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom won the award for a seventh time last season.
The Sports Network