We’re well into the final month of the NHL regular season, and who is going to be named the award winners is starting to become more clear.
One of the best indicators for who is going to win each award is the betting odds and it looks like the Sharks will have at least one award winner this season.
Erik Karlsson is about to cap off one of the best comeback seasons in recent NHL history. He leads the list of names to win this year’s James Norris Trophy as the best defenseman.
Let’s take a look at the latest odds.
James Norris Trophy odds
Erik Karlsson Norris Trophy favorite
Erik Karlsson had failed to live up to expectations since joining the San Jose Sharks in 2018, unable to repeat the success he had with the Ottawa Senators. Things went from bad to wore the past two seasons, recording only 22 points in 2020-21 and 35 points in 2021-22.
Then, out of the blue, Karlsson put together the best season of his career. Through 71 games, Karlsson has recorded an eye-popping 87 points as a defenseman. That’s already a career high for him, including both 2012 and 2015 which were years that he had won the NHL’s Norris Trophy.
Erik Karlsson leads NHL in 5x5 points (56)
— Jason Gregor (@JasonGregor) March 21, 2023
He's logged most 5x5 min in NHL.
With him on ice at 5x5 Sharks have outscored opponents 86-78 (+8).
Without him on ice Sharks have been outscored 106-61 (-45).
He has 87 pts in 71 games. He is the clear leader for Norris.
As a result, he’s the odds on favorite to win his third Norris Trophy of his career and his first since 2015.
The Sharks season was disappointing as a whole, but they at least have Karlsson to hang their hat on as they look ahead to the 2023-24 campaign.
–
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.