Weber loses Norris in close vote for second year in a row

After being narrowly edged out for the Norris Trophy by hockey legend Nicklas Lidstrom last year, Shea Weber was narrowly beaten by Ottawa Senators youngster Erik Karlsson.

Only twelve points separated the two in another year of close voting. Zdeno Chara was a distant third, 107 points behind Weber. Ryan Suter was eighth in the voting and ex-Pred Dan Hamhuis rounded out the top ten.

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Senators Karlsson wins Norris Trophy

Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators has won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the defenseman demonstrating "the greatest all-around ability in the position," as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. The 22-year-old native of Landsbro, Sweden, is the youngest Norris Trophy recipient since Bobby Orr, who captured the first of his eight consecutive Norris titles with the Boston Bruins at the age of 20 in 1968.

Karlsson edged Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators 1,069 to 1,057 in the second consecutive cliffhanger Norris vote. In 2010-11, Weber was nosed out by Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom, 736-727, in the closest race for first place since 1996.

Karlsson enjoyed a breakout season, leading all NHL defensemen in scoring with 78 points (19 goals, 59 assists) in 81 games. He recorded 25 points more than any other League defenseman -- the widest winning margin since Pittsburgh's Paul Coffey lapped the field by 38 points in 1988-89 -- and set Ottawa franchise records for blueline assists and points. Karlsson became the youngest defenseman to tally as many as 78 points in a season since Coffey's 96 with Edmonton in 1982-83, topped NHL defensemen in shots
(261), was ninth in the League in average ice time per game (25:19) and posted a +16 rating.

                      2011-2012 Norris Trophy Voting

              Pts.      1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th
   1.  Erik Karlsson, OTT    1,069 (66-31-32-9-5)
   2.  Shea Weber, NSH 1,057 (49-54-32-9-2)
   3.  Zdeno Chara, BOS      950   (32-48-47-19-2)
   4.  Alex Pietrangelo, STL 381   (0-7-20-68-28)
   5.  Nicklas Lidstrom, DET 132   (0-5-4-16-29)
   6.  Dan Girardi, NYR      70    (2-0-4-6-12)
   7.  Brian Campbell, FLA   58    (0-2-2-6-16)
   8.  Ryan Suter, NSH 57    (0-1-3-5-20)
   9.  Kris Letang, PIT      40    (0-0-4-3-11)
   10. Dan Hamhuis, VAN      21    (0-1-0-3-5)
   11. Ryan McDonagh, NYR    13    (0-0-1-2-2)
   12. Michael Del Zotto, NYR      5     (0-0-0-1-2)
   13. Duncan Keith, CHI     4     (0-0-0-1-1)
         Keith Yandle, PHX     4   (0-0-0-1-1)
   15. Dustin Byfuglien, WPG 4     (0-0-0-0-4)
         Alexander Edler, VAN  4   (0-0-0-0-4)
   17. Dan Boyle, S.J. 2     (0-0-0-0-2)
   18. Kevin Bieksa, VAN     1     (0-0-0-0-1)
         Willie Mitchell, L.A. 1   (0-0-0-0-1)
         Kevin Shattenkirk, STL 1  (0-0-0-0-1)
            
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