The three NHL defensemen who had been chosen as finalists for the 2023-24 Norris Trophy had been the Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes, the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, and the Nashville Predators’ Roman Josi. It was an in depth name and any of the defenders had been deserving to win that trophy for his or her accomplishments. In the long run, Hughes took dwelling the Norris because the first-ever Canucks participant to win the award.
For Josi, it might have been his second Norris Trophy win, had he gotten the respect as a substitute of Hughes. He received his first Norris for the 2019-20 season, when he totaled 16 objectives and 49 assists for 65 factors in 69 video games. Moreover, throughout the postseason, he accrued 4 assists in 4 video games. With as many nice defensemen as there are within the league, can Josi win the Norris subsequent season?
Offense Ought to Assist Level Manufacturing
As a lot because the Norris Trophy is about the perfect defenseman within the NHL per season, having the ability to rating factors offensively performs a big position in whether or not somebody will get the votes for it. As nice as Josi is defensively, he is aware of tips on how to tally offensive manufacturing too. All through his complete profession in Nashville, Josi has develop into probably the greatest level producers for the membership. He discovered from a few of the greatest, resembling former Predators captain and 2024 Hockey Corridor of Fame blueliner Shea Weber and longtime defender Ryan Suter.
In his 13 campaigns with the Predators to this point, Josi accrued the next stats:
- 2011-12: 5 objectives and 11 assists for 16 factors in 52 video games
- 2012-13: 5 objectives and 13 assists for 18 factors in 48 video games
- 2013-14: 13 objectives and 27 assists for 40 factors in 72 video games
- 2014-15: 15 objectives and 40 assists for 55 factors in 81 video games
- 2015-16: 14 objectives and 47 assists for 61 factors in 81 video games
- 2016-17: 12 objectives and 37 assists for 49 factors in 72 video games
- 2017-18: 14 objectives and 39 assists for 53 factors in 75 video games
- 2018-19: 15 objectives and 41 assists for 56 factors in 82 video games
- 2019-20: 16 objectives and 49 assists for 65 factors in 69 video games
- 2020-21: eight objectives and 25 assists for 33 factors in 48 video games
- 2021-22: 23 objectives and 73 assists for 96 factors in 80 video games
- 2022-23: 18 objectives and 41 assists for 59 factors in 67 video games
- 2023-24: 23 objectives and 62 assists for 85 factors in 82 video games
Final season, Josi’s 85 factors had been ranked third in defensemen scoring within the league. Solely Hughes (92 factors) and Makar (90) had greater than him.
Trying forward at 2024-25, Josi shall be enjoying with some new weapons that might increase his level totals. Fellow member of the 2008 NHL Draft class Steven Stamkos joined the Predators on a four-year deal price $32 million. Nashville basic supervisor (GM) Barry Trotz additionally locked up former Vegas Golden Knights winger Jonathan Marchessault to a five-year contract price $27.5 million. Each stars have confirmed that they nonetheless can produce stable stats within the NHL. Final season for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stamkos scored 40 objectives and tallied 41 assists for 81 factors in 79 video games. With the Golden Knights, Marchessault notched 42 objectives and 27 assists for 69 factors in 82 video games. Josi will get some essential ice time with one or each of those new additions to the membership, particularly if they’re all on the facility play. Head coach Andrew Brunette will have the ability to take a look at some choices out with everybody within the lineup.
If Josi will get to play many of the 2024-25 marketing campaign with Stamkos and Marchessault, there’s a good likelihood that his level totals from final season will soar up. He already is able to virtually scoring 100 factors with out enjoying on the identical crew as abilities like Stamkos and Marchessault. They’ll make his stats look even higher if they’re all on the market on the identical time.
It’ll even be attention-grabbing to see how the pairings search for Nashville. Josi will share the blue line with latest free agent addition Brady Skjei; in addition to Dante Fabbro, Luke Schenn, Jeremy Lauzon, and Alexandre Provider. He shall be arrange for scoring alternatives from his defensive accomplice as effectively, whoever Brunette decides to pair him with.
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Total, I anticipate Josi shall be within the Norris dialogue once more throughout the 2024-25 marketing campaign. He might very effectively be nominated once more as a finalist. Whether or not or not he wins will rely upon the season and the way the stat sheet goes for him. It doesn’t matter what occurs although, he is without doubt one of the greatest defenders within the league, and he ought to have a stellar season with the Predators both manner.
