Norris Trophy Power Rankings: Rielly on top with gaudy offensive numbers

[TT1]

Rielly has been good offensively but his defensive play seems to be..... lacking. Thus far, i'd give it to Letang or Karlsson/Gio (personally i have Letang in the lead).

 

[NyQuil]

do you consider yourself and other Sens fans hypocrites for not going off about how Rielly deserves the Norris?

I think I’ve been pretty clear that he and Gio are the front runners.

Gio is the “good guy who has put in a lot of years” candidate but Rielly has the Leafs media machine working in his favour.

In any event, it’s nice to see you guys coming around.

Better late than never.

 

[PensandCaps]

has karlsson really been better than hedman? not sure

No.


EK is getting like 60% zone starts.

Hedman plays harder mins.


Though Hedman missing some games...may give the edge to EK.

 

[Seras]

Lol the Norris is hilarious. “Gaudy offensive numbers” when deciding who the top DEFENSE player in the nhl is.

It's only been this way since forever

 

[NyQuil]

You listed people with more help though.

So..

Except Weber and Chabot.

Well that’s a start.

I didn’t go through all the teams - just off the top of my head.

There are some terrible teams out there so I imagine their top guys don’t have a lot of help.

 

[NyQuil]

No.

EK and is getting like 60% zone starts.

Hedman plays harder mins.

Zone starts is a terrible metric used to penalize players for their supposed defensive woes as opposed to rewarding players for their ability to change the game in the offensive zone.

 

[PensandCaps]

Zone starts is a terrible metric.

Agreed. Just throwing it out there.

 

[Nizdizzle]

I think I’ve been pretty clear that he and Gio are the front runners.

Gio is the “good guy who has put in a lot of years” candidate but Rielly has the Leafs media machine working in his favour.

In any event, it’s nice to see you guys coming around.

Better late than never.

The usual cop-out. A Leafs player has won like what? 1 individual player trophy in the last 30 years (Matthews' Calder)? The "Leafs media machine" doesn't influence the voting.

 

[Tkachuky]

For me, two things put Rielly above Gio.

1. He has almost 10 more points already. If he continues to keep that large point gap, he will win.
2. He takes much fewer penalties. Just better positionally so he doesn't take as many penalties/put his team shorthanded.

Gio I would have #2. Chabot #3 for me depending on missed time.

7 =\= 10 (plus Gio with 1 game less) I know you said almost in your post.

A 5-10 point gap at the end of the season is not imo big enough.

2. Very questionable that he is better positionaly. I’m sure this comment reflects the kneeing incident.

Who’s better defensively?

 

[NyQuil]

The usual cop-out. A Leafs player has won like what? 1 individual player trophy in the last 30 years (Matthews' Calder)? The "Leafs media machine" doesn't influence the voting.

That’s more a factor of the lack of candidate seasons than the lack of an actual impact of media influence.

You tell me what awards the Leafs have missed out on over the last 30 years?

 

[TT1]

Lol. None of those guys are having Norris years except Chabot.

Doughty has more help on the blueline than Letang/Rielly

Suter has more help

Weber isn't near as good as them. But he doesn't have much help.

lol at OEL.

Uh.. Weber has been pretty good so far this year, especially if you factor in that he hasn't played for about a year. He still isn't even playing his best hockey, despite that he hasn't looked out of place.

 

[PensandCaps]

Zone starts is a terrible metric used to penalize players for their supposed defensive woes as opposed to rewarding players for their ability to change the game in the offensive zone.

Well. Letang a supposed offensive guy is the only Dman on the list with more Dzone starts. So You can use an offensively gifted Dman in the Dzone more if you want and still get good offensive production.


Anyway. It's a flawed stat. Most shifts come in game off the bench

 

[Semantics]

This shouldn't even be a discussion. Rielly is doing this with an anchor tied around his ankle that he has to schlep all over the ice (almost 38 year old Ron Hainsey). Unless Rielly misses 15+ games it's inconceivable that the Norris wouldn't be his.

 

[joe dirte]

Giordano deserves it, the guy might play the best defense of anyone in the league.

he's definitely one of the best 2 candidates. But I think the first half of your statement is arguable, and the second I disagree with. He's good, but best defensively in the league? I don't think so.

 

[HarryLime]

Id be fine with gio or rielly winning. I think as of right now they're the only viable options


Edit chabot isn't that far behind

 

[PensandCaps]

Uh.. Weber has been pretty good so far this year, especially if you factor in that he hasn't played for about a year. He still isn't even playing his best hockey, despite that he hasn't looked out of place.

Good point.

If he played more, he would be in the convo.

 

[NyQuil]

Rielly has been good offensively but his defensive play seems to be..... lacking. Thus far, i'd give it to Letang or Karlsson.

It’s miraculous how Erik Karlsson has suddenly learned how to play defence this particular year after years of toiling for the mediocre Senators.

 

[joe dirte]

Exactly. HF mass doesn't get it

i think the problem is that, in the recent past, with certain winners, they've ignored defensive play, and awarded the trophy on "omg pointzzz", so people like to point it out.

 

[Nizdizzle]

That’s more a factor of the lack of candidate seasons than the lack of an actual impact of media influence.

You tell me what awards the Leafs have missed out on over the last 30 years?

You're the one positing that the Leafs Media bias somehow has them in the trophy running when they shouldn't be. You should be the one qualifying your claim with evidence.

 

[TT1]

It’s miraculous how Erik Karlsson has suddenly learned how to play defence this particular year after years of toiling for the mediocre Senators.

It's tough to say tho, i think around 61-62% of his starts this year have been in the o-zone. Letang has been getting much harder deployments, he doesn't have much help either.

 

[Semantics]

The usual cop-out. A Leafs player has won like what? 1 individual player trophy in the last 30 years (Matthews' Calder)? The "Leafs media machine" doesn't influence the voting.

If anything it's the opposite. There are voters who have publicly admitted voting AGAINST players on the Leafs because they don't want to be SEEN as biased themselves, and/or think it's their duty to counter this supposed bias. Leafs players have to work extra hard to win awards.

 

[Fred McCarthy]

It's Riellys to lose , can't Imagine him and Toronto letting up though..

 

[Spirit of 67]

I think I’ve been pretty clear that he and Gio are the front runners.

Gio is the “good guy who has put in a lot of years” candidate but Rielly has the Leafs media machine working in his favour.

In any event, it’s nice to see you guys coming around.

Better late than never.

If the Leafs media machine is working on it, Rielly has no chance.

 

[WestCoast CyberG]

Karlsson will work his way back into the conversation, although it's gotta be a two horse race between Giordano/Reilly right now.

Really hoping that EK65 falters down the stretch and looks average...but only long enough for Vancouver to sign him as FA. Wishful thinking..he is starting to look dominant again and suspect Reilly and Giordano will slow down and Hedman will heat up.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

It’s miraculous how Erik Karlsson has suddenly learned how to play defence this particular year after years of toiling for the mediocre Senators.

to be fair SJ is an elite xg team