For any defenseman, being the recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy is an unbelievable honor. Having the title of “greatest defenseman” in your resume is definitely one thing all NHL defensemen try for. For Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard, the hunt for the Norris Trophy is certainly on.
However with a league crammed with so many gifted defensemen, does Bouchard have a real likelihood at successful the Norris trophy?
Final season Bouchard broke out in a giant method for the Oilers, having a profession 12 months in each facet. In 81 video games, he amassed 18 targets and 64 assists for a complete of 82 factors, doubling his earlier profession excessive of 40 factors. For perspective, final season’s Norris trophy recipient, Quinn Hughes, recorded 92 factors. Simply forward of Bouchard’s 82-point complete.
Bouchard didn’t simply have a career-best common season; he produced arguably top-of-the-line postseason performances by a defenseman in NHL historical past. Breaking a report set by Paul Coffey in 1985, he recorded the most assists by a defenseman in a single postseason with 26. In complete, Bouchard logged 32 factors through the playoffs. His postseason numbers surpass numbers set by the 2022 Conn Smythe and Norris trophy winner, Cale Makar. Moreover, Bouchard had the fifth most votes for the Norris trophy final season.
Can Bouchard Translate These Numbers to a Full 82-Recreation Season?
The playoff level tempo Bouchard maintained, averaging 1.28 factors per sport, blows the factors tempo of the final decade of Norris Trophy winners out of the water. A full season underneath his 1.28 playoff level tempo would give him 104 factors, probably the most factors by a defenseman since 1991.
If Bouchard can replicate his playoff dominance into the 2024-2025 season and preserve it by way of all 82 video games, the Norris trophy very properly might be his. It gained’t be straightforward for Bouchard but it surely isn’t out of his attain contemplating he held a 1.01 factors per sport common through the common season.
However, Bouchard can’t simply have a superb offensive season; he should carry out defensively as properly. His coach mentioned giving Bouchard extra penalty-killing time, which is able to solely assist his defensive sport. This implies the staff is assured in a younger defender who simply discovered his footing within the NHL.
Seemingly every time Bouchard steps on the ice he turns into an excellent higher participant than earlier than. Having a powerful, constant, well-rounded season will definitely bolster his Norris trophy hopes.
After a profession common season and a historic postseason, Bouchard seems to solidify himself as an elite defenseman. Regardless of the numbers he has produced, many hockey followers overlook his expertise. Nonetheless, Bouchard searches for 2 items of {hardware}: the coveted Norris trophy and, above all else, the Stanley Cup.
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