NHL.com: Doughty Mid Season Favorite to Win Norris

[PuckinUgly57]

Doughty leads Norris Trophy race at midseason

Not a lot here that we don't already know, kind of a vanilla article actually. I think he has had a solid season, but I'm not sure I would give him the Norris this season (at least not yet).

To me he made more an impact in 2015-16 when he won - he had the highest DPS that year (Defensive Point Shares, or how much his estimated point contribution is due to his defense, of 7.1) of any Norris winner in the last 10 years, the last guy being this completely pedestrian defender named Nicklas Lidstrom (8.1 in 2007-08 when he won the Norris, the next closest being Keith in 2009-10 with a 6.2). Doughty's 7.1 that season ranks him 11th all time of all Norris winners, and the bulk of those names belonging to Bobby Orr (4) and Lidstrom (2), the others being Potvin/MacInnis/Robinson/Pronger (1 each). Pretty good company to be in.

DPS is a big stat to me because the Norris is defined as the defenseman who "demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". It's much easier to contribute offensively than defensively for a defenseman, which is why I shake my head at winners like Karlsson and and to a lesser degree Burns last year, when some of these guys can be liabilities in their own end. Defeats the purpose of being a defenseman, ya think? I got way more joy out of preventing goals as a defenseman than I did from scoring them, it's a chess match and you are forced to use your brain a bit more.

I still think it's up for grabs between a few guys, Doughty included as well, but maybe we are so spoiled seeing him control games nightly I am being blind to it.

 

[Kings4OT]

About the only real difference I see is actually in the offensive zone, he jumps in and does more 1 on 1 type of net drives....that's probably what is getting him attention, otherwise I agree he is pretty much what we expect from him ....which is pretty dang good

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Good point, I didn't think about that but it's true, he is definitely trying to create more chances on his own this season on the rush. It is pretty neat to see him go (nearly) coast to coast and get through guys and drive the net. It seems strange now and again when I look behind the opposing net and Doughty is there trying to maintain possession.

He has it in him, we have seen it time to time (the goal against the Devils in the SCFs in 2012 is a great example as well as the receiving the puck between the legs from Williams at the point, taking it in and scoring on Lundqvist in the SCFs in 2014) but the old Kings' style of play didn't have the defense jump in as much as Stevens' system does. Sutter was cycle cycle cycle/back to the point/shot/score garbage goals with the defense only jumping in really when they needed to continue the cycle, not actively being a 5 man unit and becoming part of the attack.

Had he scored on that spinorama on Rinne last weekend, to me that is easily the goal of the year because of who it is (a defenseman, not because it's Drew Doughty - I'd be giving any defender who pulls that off props) and the sequence - he broke the play up in his end, recognized it would be a 2-on-1, bolted and then got the puck back in the offensive zone. Credit to both Doughty for what he did and for Rinne for making a huge save, if Doughty elevates that puck it is going in.

His defensive play has been solid overall, although I have seen more SNAFUs this season than ever before but that's because the offense has been opened up and Stevens encourages taking chances; that is bound to happen versus when you play a more conservative system than Sutter's. Every defender has made more gaffes this season than before as a result of this.

Even though this wasn't a read issue or breakdown in coverage, seeing McDermitt cough up the puck like he did on a routine ring around the boards leading to a goal was total Jake Muzzin. I still can't stand that guy and would like to see him moved but the issue is the Kings still lack a second T4 defender, something they have yet to address since Voynov left.