Trophy Tracker: Josi, Makar top Norris Trophy picks as best defenseman

To mark the end of the 2021-22 regular season, NHL.com is running its fifth installment of the Trophy Tracker series this week. Today, we look at the race for the Norris Trophy, given annually to the top defenseman in the NHL as selected in a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Roman Josi is having one of the best seasons by a defenseman in the past 25 years.
The Nashville Predators captain has set the team record for points with 93 (22 goals, 71 assists) in 78 games. He's one of nine defensemen in NHL history to have at least 90 points, and the first since Ray Bourque had 91 (20 goals, 71 assists) in 1993-94.
"I think after the season, when we're able to sit back and relax, it's going to be amazing to look back at," forward Ryan Johansen said of Josi's accomplishment. "As a teammate right now, I just see him doing his thing so consistently. Just dominating the puck, dominating the ice, making big-time plays every game. It's really a pleasure to be a part of and watch. And the best part of it all is him as a human being and how great of a person he is and a leader for our group."
Josi also leads NHL defensemen this season in even-strength points (57), power-play goals (10), power-play points (36) and shots on goal (271), and was the favorite to win the Norris Trophy in a panel of 17 NHL.com writers. Josi received 80 points, including 12 first-place votes, ahead of Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (71 points, five first-place votes) and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning (51 points).
"No matter how much success he's had, he's the same guy," Nashville coach John Hynes said of Josi after a 3-2 win against the Ottawa Senators on April 7, when Josi set the Predators record for points. "He's humble, he works hard, he's a great teammate, he's a coachable player. I think that's what makes him special. And that's what makes him captain of the team."

Josi has a point in 52 of 78 games this season and is averaging more goals (0.27) and points (1.19) per game than he did in 2019-20 (0.23 goals per game, 0.94 points per game) when he won the Norris Trophy for the first time.
"I love this team," Josi said. "I'm getting a lot of free points because guys are playing so well and guys are scoring and our power play is doing so well. It's just so much fun being a part of this team.
"I think it's a complete team effort this year. Obviously some guys are having great years, which is awesome, but it's not just the stats. It's everyone doing their job, which makes it so much fun to play on this team."
Josi had a 13-game point streak from March 2-27 (four goals, 24 assists), the longest ever by a Predators defenseman and tied with Makar for the longest by an NHL defenseman this season.
He scored a goal in a 6-2 loss to the Lightning on Saturday to reach 90 points, but said individual accolades aren't something he's concerned about right now.
"It's definitely not on my mind tonight," Josi said. "We're in a playoff hunt and it was a disappointing night for us. Sometime I'll look back at this and be happy, but tonight was a disappointment with the way it ended and the way we played."
Hedman, who has been a Norris finalist each of the past five seasons and won it in 2017-18, said Josi would be his pick.
"You look at the top two, obviously Josi and Makar," Hedman said last week. "A little bit of different players but really highly skilled offensively. I don't know. It will be a tough vote this year but I will probably go with Josi."
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis): Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, 80 points (12 first-place votes); Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, 71 (5); Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 51; Adam Fox, New York Rangers, 19; Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins, 9; Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs, 7; John Carlson, Washington Capitals, 6; Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers, 4; Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins, 4; Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche 2; Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks, 1; Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes, 1