1993-94 Norris Trophy Revisit

[Felidae]

The 1995-96 Norris trophy race is discussed quite a bit for how close it was (I'll get to that one eventually), but just a few years earlier, Bourque was involved in another very close Norris race with Scott Stevens that doesn't get talked about nearly as much.

Bourque had 26 1st place votes and 21 2nd place votes. Scott Stevens had 24 and 23. No one else was close to winning the trophy.


Statistically, Bourque had 91 points, 2nd most on his team but led defenseman in points, 20 goals, and was a +26 (also 2nd most on team


Stevens had 78 points which led his team, 17 goals, and was a +53, 1st in the league as well as a +17 gap over the next best teammate

The Bruins were 8th in GF and 10th in GA. NJD was 2nd in both categories

Al Macinnis and Sergei Zubov also had great years (Zubov led his team in points) Were 2nd and 3rd in scoring amongst defenseman.


Do you think Bourque deserved his win? Or should it have gone to someone else? If you think Bourque deserved the win, in hindsight do you think the Norris race was closer than it should have been, or just right?

Click to read more...

 

[The Panther]

There may have been one or two earlier seasons when Bourque didn't win the Norris and should have, but this season -- as much as it pains me to say it -- is one where I think he wasn't really the best Dman.

I think Scott Stevens should have won it.

 

[JackSlater]

I do think that Bourque was the correct pick but Stevens had one of the great runner up seasons, particularly among defencemen who never won the trophy in their careers. That was the year that you had glimpses of New Jersey Stevens and early Stevens, so dominant defensively and still a threat/contributor offensively.