On Wednesday, May 1st, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2023-24 James Norris Memorial Trophy. Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche are the three finalists for the award. The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position”… Hughes is a first-time finalist for this award. If he were to win it, he’d be the first Canucks player to achieve this.
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Quinn Hughes has had a remarkable season in his first year as a captain for Vancouver and led defensemen with an NHL career-high 92 points in 82 games (17 goals, 75 assists), getting the Canucks their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season, as well as their first division title since the 2012-13 season. He also had the most even-strength points (54), was second with the most power-play points (38), and was fourth in plus/minus (plus-38) among defensemen. Hughes led the Vancouver Canucks in SAT percentage with the team controlling 56.4% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 while he had been on the ice. Quinn also was tied at 10th in the NHL in ice time per game (24:41).
He had also become the eighth-fastest defenseman in NHL history to collect 300 career points, accomplishing this in his 331st game on January 24th against the St. Louis Blues. Hughes isn’t finished reaching milestones, he also became the third defenseman in NHL history, after Paul Coffey and Bobby Orr, to record at least 200 assists over a three-season period – he reached this total on April 8th against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Quinn Hughes has definitely put on a show this season, his first as the captain for the Canucks, and will continue making an impact on the team. He’s on the hunt to become the fourth U.S.-born player to win the award, to go on to follow Chris Chelios (3 times, last 1995-96), Brian Leetch (2 times, last 1906-97), and Adam Fox (2020-21). Hughes would be the first Canuck in team history who has been voted for the Norris Trophy.
