When considering the NHL's top blueliner this year, are Roman Josi's second-half stats more important than Hughes and Makar's first-half production? Or is a game a game no matter when it is?
Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi has grabbed the headlines lately in the Norris Trophy race.
Josi has the most points per game among NHL blueliners since the all-star break with 1.29, and he's tied for the season lead in goals by D-men with 19. His contributions played a significant role in the Predators going on an 18-game points streak that lasted from mid-February through to March 26.
Until the 33-year-old and 2020 Norris Trophy winner rose the ranks, this year's debate about who should win the award has revolved around Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. Hughes leads the NHL in points by a defenseman, with 86 in 76 games, but Makar is second, with 81 points in 70 games.
The Norris Trophy is supposed to go to the defenseman who has demonstrated the greatest all-round ability in the position "throughout the season." That said, do Josi's recent accomplishments have greater weight as the pressure builds toward the playoffs, or is it recency bias that's taken the focus away from Hughes and Makar being the top blueliners throughout the season?
Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos debated it on The Hockey News Pre-Game Show: