(via NHL Communications) - Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning has won his first career James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the defenseman demonstrating “the greatest all-around ability in the position,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Hedman was named on 163 of 164 ballots, including 94 first-place votes, in accumulating 1,385 voting points to edge second-place Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings. The 2015-16 Norris Trophy winner found support on 160 ballots, including 52 first-place tallies, for 1,164 points. Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban, the 2012-13 Norris winner, finished third with 565 points.
Hedman shared first place among NHL defensemen with a career-high 17 goals, tied for the second-most in one season by a Lightning blueliner (behind Dan Boyle: 20 in 2006-07). He also ranked fifth among League defensemen with 63 points, becoming the first blueliner in team history to top 60 points in multiple campaigns (16‑56—72 in 2016-17). Hedman established a career high with a +32 rating, ranking sixth in the League and second among defensemen, and also set personal bests in time on ice per game (25:51) and total time on ice (1,990:30), placing fifth and ninth overall, respectively.
The 27-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native, who finished third in Norris Trophy voting last season in his first appearance as a finalist, is the first player in Tampa Bay history to win the award.
Photo Courtesy Of Getty Images