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The Nashville Predators have finalists in contention for four major honors Wednesday night at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, and perhaps one of their strongest candidates is Shea Weber for the Norris Trophy, which goes to the league's top defenseman. He's up against stiff competition, however, in 6-tix Norris winner Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings, and the Brobdingnagian Boston Bruin, Zdeno Chara, who won it in 2009.
Follow after the jump as the OTF staff chimes in on who will win the Norris, and make your voice heard as well!
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Dirk: Zdeno Chara - in terms of on-ice performance I think it's a toss-up between Chara and Shea Weber, but Chara benefits from an established reputation (having already won the Norris once before), as well as playing in a high-profile Eastern Conference city. I could see the Western Conference writers splitting their votes more between Lidstrom and Weber, allowing Chara to carry the day.
Chris: Shea Weber - awarding it to Lidstrom would be an achievement award, and giving it to Chara would be a disservice to the year that Shea Weber had. There may not be a more dominant defenseman in the NHL today than Weber, and both the stats and eye test bear that out. One of many to come.
Sam: Shea Weber - Because I don't think the voters will award a defenseman with a negative +/- the Norris, it's a toss-up between hockey (but certainly not physical) clones Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber. In my opinion, Chara had the slightly better season. But I think Weber's unfamiliarity with Eastern Conference voters will actually help him in this go-round. For hockey writers who don't follow the Predators closely, there's a lot of voodoo explanations thrown around for Nashville's supposedly inexplicable success. Usually these explanations key on some kind of incredible leadership. And who's a better face for Nashville's leadership than their stoic captain?
Marc: Shea Weber - Ok, I'm biased, but Weber is the most complete D-man in the NHL. Whether it's at even strength, on the power-play, or 5-on-5 Weber can get it done. Offensively and defensively Weber got it done.
What do you say, Dear Reader?
