New York Rangers star Adam Fox has won his first career Norris Trophy after an impressive sophomore season from the blue line.
The Lightning's Victor Hedman and the Avalanche's Cale Makar were also finalists for the award given to "the defenceman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."
Fox, 23, finished among the top scorers from the blue line this season with a league-leading 42 assists and 47 points, one behind Oiler Tyson Barrie's league-leading sum. Fox was a fixture in all situations for the Rangers this season, averaging 24:42 of ice time per game including 3:45 minutes on the power play and 2:35 on the penalty kill.
This marks the fifth time a Rangers defenceman has won the Norris Trophy and first since Brian Leetch won two in 1992 and 1997. Leetch presented the award virtually to Fox, who thanked friends and family for helping him reach this point.
"There's definitely too many people to thank, just from growing up, youth hockey coaches, youth skills coaches, skating coaches and everyone who helped me get to this point," Fox said. "Of course the Rangers organization for allowing me to play and giving me the opportunity. And of course my teammates — it's an individual award but without those guys none of it is possible."
