An extraordinary total of 96 points (23 goals, 73 assists) in 80 regular-season games was an excellent business card, but unfortunately there are those who consider it more deserving. As part of the Norris Trophy, an award that rewards the best defender in the NHL, Roman Josi had to leave the glory to Cale Makar, the 23-year-old Canadian from Avalanche still in contention for the title. And specialist journalists gave Byrne 1,606 votes (25 fewer than the winner), depriving him of the opportunity to repeat the 2020 victory.
MVP recognition went instead to former Zurich Auston Matthews, capable of penetrating opponents’ goals on 60 occasions; Behind him – also the best for colleagues – Conor McDavid and Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers goalkeeper and Toronto striker has also found a logical place in the All-Star Team, which has been completed by Mitchell Marner, Johnny Goudreau and the aforementioned defenders.
Cal Makar (@Cmakar8) outperformed Roman Josie by a tiny margin in voting points (25), the closest Norris Cup vote since Ottawa’s Eric Carlson shadowed Shea Webber in Nashville in 2011-12 (12). #NHLAwards #NHLStats: https://t.co/TO15cjNV5J pic.twitter.com/Lv22RjorGT
– NHL Public Relations (PR_NHL) June 21 2022
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