LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 16: The James Norris Memorial Trophy . (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Norris Trophy
Last year the Norris Trophy went to Adam Fox, who certainly was not on anyone’s radar at the beginning of the season to come away with the award for the NHL’s best defenseman.
So it is not out of the realm of possibility that the favorite, Victor Hedman +650, may not be the favorite in April. On the Toronto Maple Leafs, it seems possible for only one player to have a legitimate shot at raising the Norris Trophy and that is Morgan Rielly.
Jake Muzzin and TJ Brodie are enticing at astronomical odds, but they are not flashy enough and do not possess enough offensive upside to be considered. Rielly sits at a reasonable +2200, just above Aaron Ekblad (+2000) and Shea Theodore (+2000), as three solid options as realistic Norris candidates.
Calder Trophy
The rookie class in the NHL this year is loaded with talent, and the Toronto Maple Leafs may give their rookie the best path to success. Nick Robertson at +1600 to win the Calder Trophy this season is an absolute steal.
The line may be this high because there is no real certainty that Robertson will play, since there is so much competition on the team at LW. If Robertson does play though, he will most likely be inserted into the top 6, and have an incredible opportunity to play with two extremely talented forwards, either Tavares/Nylander or Matthews/Marner. ]
Rookie forward such as Cole Caufield and Trevor Zegras are essentially at even money to win, which has no value at all. If Robertson does not end up playing this season, I would look a little further down the board at Quinton Byfield. Byfield’s odds are at +1200, and in my opinion he has as good an opportunity as Caufield or Zegras to be a Calder Trophy finalist.