Minnesota Wild: Ryan Suter’s Case for the Norris Trophy
Minnesota Wild D Ryan Suter is having a career year and the season isn’t even to the half way mark.
Is this season special enough for him to earn his first Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defensemen? Put all the pieces together and you can certainly make a very strong case.
If you’ve been watching the Minnesota Wild this season, then it’s no secret that Ryan Suter is having career year. Thus far watching the Wild’s top defensemen has been a treat as he’s been tenacious off the ice and backed it up with outstanding play on the ice. The team is feeding off his energy and even for the most casual of observer you’ve got to ask yourself is this the year Suter finally gets over the hump and wins the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best Defensemen? I actually think he’s a got a good shot to do it.
The most obvious change in Suter’s play this season has been his offensive output. Many have said that on the power play he’s a liability on the point, yet this season he continues to surprise with 2 goals and seven assists with the man advantage. Add that total to 3 even strength goals and 10 even strength assists, and you find Suter with 22 points sitting currently 7th amongst NHL Defensemen.
Okay granted there is six defenders with better point totals right now, but it’ the whole package that makes a D-Man great. As usual Suter leads the entire NHL in a very important category Average Time on Ice with 28:13 played on average each game. This says to me that the Wild are successful because for almost half the game Ryan is on the ice. Furthermore, a +8 rating says to me that when he is on the ice he’s doing his part to keep the puck out of the Wild’s net.
Perhaps for me though the reason he stands out from his peers is his leadership. Whenever this team has had a skid this season Suter has been the one who has been vocal in the locker room, and in press interviews setting the tone of resilience and confidence. Few weeks ago when Mike Yeo decided to take a moment at practice to speak sternly to the team and shake up the defensive pairings, it was Suter after the practice speaking about the team’s confidence and second guessed any rash moves by its coach. That took guts and it showed Mike Yeo that he has the leadership to right the ship and answer his challenges. I really think the Wild’s rebound to go on their current 4-0-2 run was because of the confidence and leadership that Suter showed during that critical time.
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Granted there are plenty of challengers for Suter to earn the Norris Trophy, but I really ask everyone out there do they have the total package that Suter has. Are they putting points up, playing defense, and leading the team all at once? I can certainly say Suter is and if things keep up the NHL won’t be able to look the other way when selecting its next Norris Trophy winner.