Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes Nominated For NHL Defenceman of the Year

International News Regarding The 2024 NHL Awards – Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes Nominated For NHL Defenceman of the Year

Quinn Hughes, 24, is one of the NHL’s three contenders for the James Norris Memorial Trophy. The James Norris Memorial Trophy is given annually to the league’s finest defenceman. Over the course of the award’s 62-year existence, 26 players have won it, with Bobby Orr winning eight times. The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association is the regulating organization responsible for selecting the winner.

The three finalists are Hughes, Nashville Predators captain Roman Josi, and Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar. Josi got the honor in 2020, while Makar won in 2022. Both were first time winners. A Vancouver Canucks player has never received the honor.

Hughes was a member of the 2020 NHL All-Rookie team, a two-time All-Star (2020 and 2024), and a five-time Canucks Babe Pratt Trophy winner (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024), which is voted on by fans and presented to the team’s top defenceman.

While repeat winners are common, and Josi and Makar are both likely to win again, Hughes has an excellent chance of winning this coveted prize.

Hughes had 17 goals, 75 assists, and 92 points in 82 regular-season games. Those were career highs for him, but more significantly, he led all NHL defencemen in points.

Makar and Josi finished second and third, respectively, with 90 and 85. Makar has 21 goals and 69 assists in 77 games, while Josi had 23 goals and 62 assists in 82 games. The winner will be revealed following the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs.

Hughes will compete for league awards with teammate and goal tender Thatcher Demko. Demko has been nominated for the NHL’s Vezina Trophy, which honors the greatest goal tender of the 2023-2024 season. In addition to Demko, the other finalists are Florida Panthers goal tender Sergei Bobrovsky and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

The candidates for the Bill Masterston Memorial Trophy, Jack Adams Award, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, and Frank J. Selke Trophy will be announced later this week. Next week, the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award finalists will be announced.

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