Fox, Karlsson, Makar named Norris Trophy finalists

Adam Fox, Erik Karlsson and Cale Makar were named finalists for the Norris Trophy on Thursday.

The award is given annually to the best defenseman in the NHL as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The winner will be announced as part of the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on June 26 (8 p.m. ET; TNT, SN, TVAS).

Fox finished eighth among defensemen in scoring with 72 points (12 goals, 60 assists) in 82 games for the New York Rangers this season. He was seventh in power-play points (29), tied for fourth in game-winning goals (five) and tied for 11th in plus-minus (plus-28).

The 25-year-old was third on the Rangers in points, second in plus-minus, tied for first in game-winners and led all skaters in ice time per game (24:23). He got his 200th NHL point in his 241st game Jan. 1 to become the second-fastest defenseman in their history to reach the milestone (Brian Leetch, 211).

The 2021 Norris Trophy winner, Fox helped the Rangers (47-22-13) finish third in the Metropolitan Division and qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third time in four seasons. New York was 15-0-0 when he had at least two points.

Karlsson, a five-time Norris finalist and two-time winner (2012, 2015), had 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists) in 82 regular-season games to become the sixth defenseman in NHL history to reach 100 points in a season, and the first since Leetch had 102 for the Rangers in 1991-92. He established a Sharks record with a 14-game point streak (two goals, 20 assists) from Dec. 3-Jan. 6 and got his first NHL hat trick at age 32 against the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 1.

On Nov. 27, Karlsson had two assists in a 4-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks to become the first defenseman in Sharks history to get at least 20 points (21; five goals, 16 assists) in a calendar month.

Makar had 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games for the Colorado Avalanche and averaged 1.10 points per game, second among defensemen behind Karlsson's 1.23. He is the first Avalanche skater to lead the NHL in average ice time (26:23), and his six game-winning goals were tied with Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets for second among defensemen.

He got his 200th point in his 195th NHL game to become the fastest defenseman in League history to reach the mark, surpassing Hockey Hall of Famer Sergei Zubov (207 games). He helped the Avalanche overcome numerous injuries to finish 51-24-7 and win the Central Division.

Makar won the Norris Trophy last season. He can become the first to repeat since Nicklas Lidstrom won three straight for the Detroit Red Wings from 2006-08.