Recently, the writers from NHL.com decided to do their own voting to see who should win the major awards for the 2022-23 season, including the Norris Trophy, which is handed out annually to the league's best defenceman.
In the results of their voting, Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes was outside the top-five, which is extremely shocking given the season the young blueliner is having. The 16 writers used a point 5-4-3-2-1 point system to vote and there was a run away winner, San Jose Sharks defenceman Erik Karlsson, who became the first blueliner with 100 points since the early-1990s.
Karlsson received 75 points from the NHL.com writers, while Cale Makar finished second with 32, Adam Fox was third with 25, Rasmus Dahlin was fourth with 23 and Josh Morrissey rounded out the top-five with 22 points. New Jersey Devils defenceman Dougie Hamilton finished sixth in voting with 20 points and then the writers finally got to Quinn Hughes, having him in seventh place with 18 points.
While it's understandable to have Erik Karlsson in first just because of his historic season offensively, but if he happens to actually win the trophy in June when the Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association cast their votes, I think it's time the NHL creates a new award. They should keep the Norris Trophy for the best OVERALL defenceman and create a new award for the best OFFENSIVE defenceman.
Hughes has drawn criticism in the past for his play defensively, but this season, he's taken his game to a new level and has been extremely strong at both ends of the ice. When the nominees for the Norris Trophy come out in June, Quinn Hughes should be one of the three finalists, no doubt.
