Rangers' Fox claims Norris Trophy

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox won the James Norris Memorial Trophy on Tuesday night in just his second NHL season.

The award is handed out annually "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Colorado Avalanche blue-liner Cale Makar and Tampa Bay Lightning rearguard Victor Hedman - who was vying for his second Norris - were the other finalists. Here's how the three stacked up:

Fox received 40 of the possible 100 first-place votes. The award is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Norris Trophy voting: #NYR pic.twitter.com/s0qPIpZgjn

- Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) June 29, 2021

Fox finished second behind Tyson Barrie in points among NHL defensemen with 47.

The 23-year-old was an invaluable member of the Rangers this season. Without the Harvard product on the ice at five-on-five, New York's xGF% and GF% both dropped by nearly 10%. Essentially, the team was among the best in the league when he was on the ice, but one of the worst as soon as he hopped on the bench.

He was excellent on special teams, too. Fox's 23 power-play points were second among defensemen and tied for seventh among all skaters. He also logged the most penalty-kill minutes among Rangers blue-liners and posted the second-best goals-against per 60 minutes while shorthanded among the team's qualified defensemen.

Fox was originally a third-round pick by the Flames in 2016. Calgary shipped him to Carolina in 2018, along with Micheal Ferland and Dougie Hamilton, in exchange for Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. The Hurricanes then sent him to the Big Apple in 2019 for a second- and third-round pick.

(Analytics source: Natural Stat Trick)

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