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

[foggyvisor]

Norris has historically take a player's career into context, and that shouldn't stop this season. With that in mind, it will probably end:

Karlsson
Gio
Others...

 

[NyQuil]

Salming. Forever known as "the King".

So was Richard Brodeur.

Doesn’t necessarily mean much.

 

[Pyrophorus]

I wish irony would manifest itself physically in the form of chocolate pudding because I would chow down for days.

Leaf Nation has certainly done an about face on what constitutes a Norris worthy defenceman.

Untrue. This is the way it has always been decided.
HF on the other hand, has gone from saying he's a #3 to a Norris candidate, though begrugingly as always.

 

[NyQuil]

Untrue. This is the way it has always been decided.

HF on the other hand, has gone from saying he's a #3 to a Norris candidate, though begrugingly as always.

Well, as recently as two seasons ago he was putting up points like a #3 defenceman.

For the record, I had him as a #1 last year and now with his production he’s an obvious candidate.

Front runner seems to be a term that some people take issue with.

 

[PsYcNeT]

Suprised Leafs fans are pumping the tires of a Vancouver-born player over a Toronto-born one.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Suprised Leafs fans are pumping the tires of a Vancouver-born player over a Toronto-born one.

Not that insular, and never were.

 

[PsYcNeT]

Not that insular, and never were.

Right, it's only about what team they play for, not where they were born. Silly me.

 

[FerklundCGY]

I love how Leafs fans are trying to use Hainsey being Rielly's D-partner as a great reason for him being the front-runner because "Rielly is totally carrying him", when in reality, it shows that Rielly is struggling with Hainsey, because all of his defensive numbers and relative numbers are actually quite poor.

 

[acor]

The point of every hockey player is, in a perfect world, playing in a way that positively contributes to goals for ratio. It does not matter how that is done.

Thats true. Problem is, offense is rated so much higher than defense, even if we're talking about defensemen...

 

[TopG]

mORRgan

 

[ijif]

Thats true. Problem is, offense is rated so much higher than defense, even if we're talking about defensemen...

The name of the position is irrelevant.

 

[koyvoo]

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

5. Kris Letang, Penguins

4. Erik Karlsson, Sharks

3. Brent Burns, Sharks

2. Mark Giordano, Flames

1. Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs

The only thing left to see if the voters will finally give the trophy to a player who has such a low minutes average at 22 mins a night, because they never, ever have.

If Rielly does win the Norris, it would an historic win in that sense.

 

[Tame Impala]

If the season ended now, Reilly would get it obviously and it's not even close. He can very easily lose it though, the Norris historically goes to players who would've deserved it in the previous season and who are more "established" names (similar production over multiple seasons), thus I think Reilly needs to maintain a gap of 5+ points vs the likes of Burns, Carlson, Letang, etc to win it.

Carlson should be the second favorite. I doubt Gio or Chabot will even be in the discussion in a couple of months. Burns might go on a tear and simply rack up so many points that he'll be the winner, but I'd choose Carlson over him as of now.

The aforementioned is based on the factors actually used to determine who wins the Norris, not on who should win it in an ideal world. Chabot, for example, has almost no chance because he plays in a bottom feeder team and is -3 vs Reilly +25, Carlson +21. It's just the way the cookie crumbles, sadly.

Also, the list in the article is dumb and the writers seem pretty clueless.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

I love how Leafs fans are trying to use Hainsey being Rielly's D-partner as a great reason for him being the front-runner because "Rielly is totally carrying him", when in reality, it shows that Rielly is struggling with Hainsey, because all of his defensive numbers and relative numbers are actually quite poor.

Do you happen to have ALL of those defensive and relative numbers on hand?

 

[Backhandbeauty]

So far this is the best performance we've seen from a dman since the days of Lidstrom at least. Maybe even further back.

Maybe the best performance by a Leaf dman, or any dman playing for an Ontario team, ever.

Let's hope he keeps it up, it's incredibly entertaining.

Lmao leaf fans sure know how to control themselves.

 

[Mickey Marner]

The only thing left to see if the voters will finally give the trophy to a player who has such a low minutes average at 22 mins a night, because they never, ever have.

If Rielly does win the Norris, it would an historic win in that sense.

Subban won it averaging 23:15 per game.

 

[HighLifeMan]

Morgan Reilly has been extremely lucky to date offensively, and is not relied upon / trusted to kill penalties consistently.

Mark Giordano should be the front runner.

 

[koyvoo]

Subban won it averaging 23:15 per game.

Yes, that’s a lowest I’ve found. About a minute more than Reilly averages. His was also an historic win at that time but 22mins a night even more so.

 

[Nithoniniel]

If I would hand the Norris out today, I would probably have given it to Rielly. But if I would try to project who will eventually have the best case at the end of the season, I think it'll be Giordano. I think there's likely some regression coming for Rielly over the rest of the season. Add that Giordano has a track record which tends to help with things like these, he'd be my pick to win it in the end.

 

[triggrman]

Gio and Rielly are even for me right now, with Carlson a distant 3rd.

 

[Lshap]

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

Hmmm.... point taken. Karlsson is especially impressive now given his slow start with SJ.

 

[MNRube]

Rielly should not win. He's racking up points playing on an amazing offensive team. Pretty obvious hes not the best dman in the NHL

 

[Rschmitz]

The Norris hasn't been about defending for ages now. Otherwise Karlsson, Burns, Subban or Hedman wouldn't have won the award.

I think a simple rule for the Norris should be to ask if that player would be in the NHL if they were unable to contribute offensively. If the answer is yes, than you can look at their offensive production and vote. If not, than they I don't think they deserve a vote.

 

[Lshap]

Rielly should not win. He's racking up points playing on an amazing offensive team. Pretty obvious hes not the best dman in the NHL

In fairness to Rielly, there are other dmen playing on strong offensive teams, none of whom have the same production. He's having a helluva season and certainly deserves to be in the Norris conversation, along with Giordano. However, the way the season is pacing, I wouldn't be surprised to see Karlsson or even Chabot (!) winning it.

 

[BigEezyE22]

Untrue. This is the way it has always been decided.
HF on the other hand, has gone from saying he's a #3 to a Norris candidate, though begrugingly as always.

So people believe he's improved? Holy f***...