Norris Trophy finalists unveiled

Brent Burns of the San Jose Sharks, Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators were named finalists for the Norris Trophy on Friday, awarded annually to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability at the position.
The winner will be announced at the 2017 NHL Awards at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 21 (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN).

\[RELATED: Complete guide to NHL Trophies and all-time winners\]
Burns, 32, a Norris Trophy finalist for the second straight season, set San Jose records for defensemen and led all defensemen in goals (29) and points (76). He led the League with 320 shots on goal and ranked seventh in total ice time (2,038:44). Burns played in all 82 games for a third straight season and the Sharks took 223 more shots than they allowed with Burns on the ice at 5-on-5. He drove puck possession with a 53.55 SAT percentage in 5-on-5 situations.

Hedman, 26, a first-time finalist, was first among defensemen and fourth overall with a career-high 56 assists in 79 games. He also set career highs in goals (16) and points (72), which ranked second among defensemen and were the most by a Lightning defenseman since Roman Hamrlik had 65 points during the 1995-96 season. Hedman finished second in the NHL with 33 power-play points, and led the NHL with 29 power-play assists. The Lightning controlled 53.39 percent of all shots when Hedman was on the ice.

Karlsson, 26, can win the trophy for the third time (2012, 2015). He played 77 games and ranked third among defensemen with 71 points (17 goals, 54 assists). The Senators captain was tied for eighth in the League and was tied for second among defensemen with 27 power-play points (four goals, 23 assists) and was sixth among defenseman with 218 shots on goal. He was fourth in the NHL in average ice time (26:50) and even-strength average ice time (21:00).