Karlsson wins 3rd career Norris Trophy as NHL's top defenseman

San Jose Sharks rearguard Erik Karlsson took home his third career Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman for his stellar 2022-23 campaign.

New York Rangers blue-liner Adam Fox and Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar were the other two finalists.

The Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the award. Here are the full results:

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Karlsson, 33, led all defensemen with 25 goals and 101 points in 82 contests while averaging 25:37 minutes of ice time per game. He is the first blue-liner to eclipse the 100-point mark since Brian Leetch in 1991-92.

The Swede ranked fourth in the league with 74 points at even strength, trailing only Connor McDavid, David Pastrnak, and Nathan MacKinnon. Karlsson also placed fourth among all rearguards in wins above replacement (3.1) and goals above replacement (18.3).

San Jose struggled mightily whenever Karlsson wasn't on the ice. Opponents outscored the Sharks 124-72 in the almost 2,326 minutes when their star defenseman was on the bench at five-on-five this campaign.

Karlsson previously won the Norris Trophy in 2012 and 2015. He is the ninth defenseman to win the award at least three times, joining Doug Harvey, Pierre Pilote, Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, and Nicklas Lidstrom.

Fox, 25, ranked eighth among all blue-liners with 72 points (12 goals, 60 assists) in 82 matchups while tying Carolina Hurricanes rearguard Jaccob Slavin for the most takeaways (88). Fox took home the Norris Trophy in 2021.

Makar, 24, was his typically impressive self despite an injury-ridded campaign. He contributed 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 contests while leading the league in average ice time (26:23). Makar won the hardware in 2022.

(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

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