Three Contenders and One Dark Horse For The '21-'22 Norris Trophy

Since the season hasn't even started yet, let's make some far-too-early predictions about who will be adding to their personal accolades when the next NHL awards season comes around in the summer of 2022. Here are three strong contenders and one dark horse for next season's Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenceman.

Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning)

The Lightning are currently playing at the peak of their abilities, and a lot of that is due to the emergence of Victor Hedman as one of the league's top 2-way defencemen. The completeness of his game at both ends of the ice, along with his 6'6" frame, make Hedman an absolute force for his team. However, Hedman will be 31-years old by the end of next season. Will age finally begin to catch up this year, or will he continue to play at the level that makes him a shoo-in for a future Hall of Fame ballot?

Adam Fox (New York Rangers)

Last year's Norris winner, Adam Fox is only just coming into his prime. At 23-years old, he has now had back-to-back 40+ point seasons, and actually managed to set a career-high in points in 2021 despite playing in 15 fewer games than the year before. Should Fox continue on that trajectory, he'll be a Norris nominee for years to come. With some improvement and progression by the rest of his team, Fox could see his first playoff games this season, making him even likelier to repeat as a Norris candidate.

Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)

Makar was the odds-on favourite to win the Norris at the start of last season. Colorado's 22-year old defender is already playing at an elite level in the NHL that most veterans can't hope to match. Makar finished last season only 3 points back of Adam Fox, despite playing in 11 fewer games, so he was about as close as he could get to winning this award already. You can also add 31 points in 35 playoff games to Makar's resume, something not a lot of 22-year old defenders can boast. Injuries have dogged this young player throughout the start of his career. If he can stay healthy for a full season, it's hard to see any other playing taking home the Norris next summer.

Dark Horse: Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars)

This year will be Heiskanen's fourth NHL season, and for his first three he has been unjustly overlooked as one of the league's best young defencemen. There's been lots of talk about Makar, and Hughes, and Fox, but out of all of them Heiskanen is the only one who's been to a Stanley Cup Final, and he scored 26 points in 27 games to help his team get there. Now that the Stars are mostly healthy, they should have a stronger season than what they managed in 2021. If Heiskanen can maintain the game we saw in the playoff bubble over a full 82 games, he's absolutely capable of putting himself in the Norris conversation among the other three names listed here.

Who do you think wins the '21-'22 Norris Trophy?

Photo credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports