BREAKING: Karlsson wins Norris Trophy

NASHVILLE — No surprise, Erik Karlsson is the 2023 Norris Trophy winner.

Karlsson has been the favorite for most of the season, a comeback campaign for the 33-year-old defender who had three of his previous four years cut short by injury.

Karlsson won the best defenseman award over 2022 and 2021 finalists Cale Makar and Adam Fox. He becomes the second San Jose Sharks defenseman to win the Norris in 2017, following Brent Burns.

In the end, Karlsson had 25 goals and 76 assists in 82 games, the first 100-point campaign for an NHL defenseman since Brian Leetch’s 102 in 1991-92.

Leetch welcomes Karlsson to 100-point club: ‘It’s an incredible achievement’

One of Karlsson’s highlights in an otherwise star-studded season for the San Jose Sharks: He had 25 more points than second-place guards Josh Morrissey and Quinn Hughes. In November, Karlsson became the first Sharks defenseman to score 20 or more points in a month. From December 3 to January 6, Karlsson enjoyed a franchise-record 14-game hitting streak.

And my personal favorite:

How crazy is Karlsson’s season going?

Tonight is his Fifth four point game of the season.

He had five four-point games in his career this season.

– Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 2, 2023

Karlsson’s remarkable season has revived his previously dormant trade value.

In the summer of 2019, Karlsson signed an eight-year, $92 million contract with the San Jose Sharks, a deal that was considered a grind as the blueliner suffered through multiple injuries and relatively unproductive years.

But there is now momentum for Karlsson to be traded, despite the challenges remaining on his contract.

Karlsson’s “open mind” about where he would be traded would return to the Senators

If Karlsson moves this summer, he would be the first reigning Norris Trophy winner since the Montreal Canadiens traded Doug Harvey to the New York Rangers in 1961.

Karlsson was also nominated for the Ted Lindsay Award, given by NHLPA voting to the league’s best player, but was beaten by Connor McDavid.

How Erik Karlsson @SanJoseSharks won the Norris pic.twitter.com/o932Q14PJ0

– Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 27, 2023