5 Players Who Will Contend for the Norris Trophy

The inscription on the Norris Trophy reads: Awarded to the Top Defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position in the National Hockey League.

Nicklas Lidstrom has won this award an astonishing seven times, his most recent coming in 2011. Although he will be one of the favorites to win it again in his last season before retirement, there will be other excellent defensemen to challenge him.

With Lidstrom in his last season, there ought to be some competition for the Norris Trophy in 2011-2012. Who will this competition be? Read on to find out. 

5. Drew Doughty

2010-2011 Stats: 11 G 29 A

If Doughty can regain his 2009-2010 form (16 G 43 A), he could be farther up on this list. He was a finalist for the Norris Trophy that year but followed it up with a less stunning but still reasonable 2011-2012 campaign.

With Doughty's contract still on the mend, he is not even in training camp as of this moment. However, there is no doubt that he is one of the best defenseman in the league, at age 21.

From L.A. Kings' coach Terry Murray:

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"As we’ve seen, at times on this road trip, he grabs the puck and gets on the attack. He’s a dangerous player. There’s a lot of things that can happen. He can score himself. He’s got great vision to make plays. So we’ve always encouraged that, quite frankly, with Doughty. The more he has the puck on his stick, the better I feel about it, because you are seeing good decisions being made and you are seeing a player who can be a real threat on the offensive part of the game.”

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Look for Doughty to have a comeback year and contend for the Norris trophy. 

4. Zdeno Chara

2010-2011 Stats: 14 G 30 A

There is no doubt that Chara should be in the mix every year for a Norris Trophy. At 6'9", Chara is a physical presence on the ice, with an absolute rocket of a slap shot, as the video above proves.

He has been called a "shutdown cyborg" by Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe, and Joanne C. Gerstner of the New York Times describes his game as "big as his 6-foot-9 frame: thundering checks, swarming defense and a Death Star-like ominous presence in the ice." 

Chara won the Norris in 2009 and definitely has the tools to do it again.  

3. Duncan Keith

2010-2011 Stats: 7 G 38 A

While his numbers might not be that impressive offensively, Keith's defensive ability definitely makes up for it. Over the past four seasons, Keith has established himself as one of the NHL's premier defensemen.

"Keith was a solid, second-pair prospect, not a spectacular one," said a Western Conference scout who regularly viewed the defenseman during his AHL days in Norfolk. "There's no debate: the rule changes after the lockout that opened up the game were a benefit to a player with Duncan's wheels and ability. But even with all that said, he gets the credit for turning himself into a spectacular player."

Keith already has a Norris trophy under his belt, and it would not be surprising to see him win another one. 

2. Nicklas Lidstrom

2010-2011 Stats: 16 G, 46 A 

How many times has Nicklas Lidstrom been included on articles like these about Norris Trophy candidates? The 41-year-old reigning Norris Trophy winner already has seven of them under his belt, and he should be in the running next year as well.

“It feels surreal having reached seven Norrises, especially at this stage in my career,” Lidstrom told the Associated Press. “I’m very proud to still be able to play at this level and win another Norris.”

When it is all said and done, Lidstrom will be considered as one of the greatest defensemen of all time, and he should be saved a spot in the Hall of Fame. 

1. Shea Weber

2010-2011 Stats: 16 G 32 A

Weber had 16 fewer assists than Lidstrom, but I believe this is the year he finally overtakes him and wins the Norris. 

Weber, quite simply, is the complete package: he's a big-minute, shutdown defender, a stellar offensive defenseman, an inspirational on-and-off-ice leader and more. He is the massive-in-every-sense-of-the-word defenseman.

From Marc of On the Forecheck:

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"OK, I'm biased, but Weber is the most complete D-man in the NHL. Whether it's at even strength, on the power play, or 5-on-5 Weber can get it done. Offensively and defensively, Weber got it done."

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Look for Weber to win his first Norris Trophy, and it definitely won't be his last.