Apr 30, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) is defended by Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) during the first period in game one of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota – Just one day after Minnesota Wild rookie defenseman Jonas Brodin was snubbed by the PHWA as a Calder finalist, fellow Wild defenseman Ryan Suter has been selected as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL defenseman that displays the “greatest all-round ability” at the position.

Suter, one of Minnesota’s two $98 million men acquired on July 4^th, led all NHL skaters with an average ice time of 27:16, a franchise-best for the Wild. No other defenseman has been so crucial to their team’s success than Suter this season. His 32 points from the blue line are third best in the league this year, behind only fellow Norris finalists P.K. Subban (Canadiens) and Kris Letang (Penguins). Only Letang tops his 28 assists.

If you go by the qualification for the award above, it’s hard for Minnesota fans not to throw Brodin into the running as the rookie has proven himself to be a quite capable top pairing defenseman in just his first season in the best hockey league on the planet. Then again, there’s a lot of homer-ism in that statement, but he’ll win his own Norris in time.

When what was possibly the best defensive pairing in the league was broken up for good last summer, it was widely thought that Suter—the 7^th overall pick in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft—would struggle without defensive partner Shea Weber skating beside him. It appears the opposite would be true.

In the first several games, both defenseman struggled without the other beside him and had to get used to young but talented European skaters as their new defensive partner. While Weber and Swiss blue liner Roman Josi have shown flashes of brilliance and potential this season, Suter and Brodin have been quite possibly the best combination known to mankind since peanut butter and jelly.

In 48 games, Weber and Josi combined for 14 goals and 32 assists for 46 points, four power play goals, a negative-9 rating and an average ice time of 49:26 per game. Conversely, Suter and Brodin combined for six goals and 37 assists for 43 points, four power play goals, a plus-5 rating and an average ice time of 50:28 per game. That’s a total of three less points, with a wide difference in plus-minus rating and 1:02 more average ice time for the Suter/Brodin pairing than Weber/Josi.

Oh, yeah—Josi, drafted 38^th overall in 2008, has 52 more games of NHL experience under his belt than Brodin, too. Did I mention Brodin, 19, is also the youngest defenseman in the league this year? I’m not knocking on Josi—I’ve actually had my eye on this kid since last season and am a pretty big fan of his—but Brodin has been nothing short of sensational this year and his play has benefitted Suter nearly as much as Suter’s has his.

The NHL is entering a new era of Norris Trophy candidates. The “old guard” is no longer safe. Nicklas Lidstrom has retired, Zdeno Chara wasn’t among this year’s nominees and Weber may not be as elite as originally thought.

The nomination of P.K. Subban ushers forth a new era of elite young defenders that began with Senator’s defenseman Erik Karlsson’s clinching of the title at the end of last season. In the next few years, youngsters like Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Coyotes), Dougie Hamilton (Bruins), Jacob Trouba (Jets), Seth Jones (2013 Draft Eligible), Josi and Brodin will make their own claim for the title of best defenseman in the NHL. Fans can’t wait to just sit back and watch it all play out.

Feb 14, 2013; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) shoots during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

There is (arguably) no other defenseman in the NHL as important to his team’s success as Ryan Suter. So, with that in mind, it brings in to question, is he worthy of Norris Trophy consideration as the NHL’s best defenseman? Before we can answer that, let’s take a look at the other defensemen that have thrown their hat into the ring in this lockout shortened season.

Niklas Kronwall—Detroit’s new No. 1 defenseman. The departure of Nicklas Lidstrom left many questions on the Red Wings’ blue line. Fellow Swede, Kronwall, has stepped in beautifully, and, while he’s certainly no Lidstrom, he currently leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with two goals and 14 assists for 16 points and a negative-4 rating in 19 games. However, he isn’t much of a minute muncher with an average ice time per game of 23:49.

Pittsburgh has a pair of defensemen that have stood out so far this season—Kris Letang (no surprise there) and Paul Martin. Both defensemen are tied for 15 points, and are a plus-6 and plus-1, respectively. Both defensemen also log nearly two minutes of ice time per game more than Kronwall, on an average of 3-4 less shifts.

St. Louis also has a pair of defensemen in the running for the NHL’s best at the position—Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo. The defensemen have notched 15 and 12 points, and 22:12 and 25:47 of ice time per game, respectively. Hockey fans need to keep an eye on both of these young men, because they could be the franchise top pair for the Blues for a long, long time. Either one could be perennial Norris contenders in the not too far off future.

Another young man hockey fans should keep their eyes on is Phoenix’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The 6^th overall selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft is a stud, plain and simple. The 6’2” 190-pound left-shot blue liner is a workhorse and will without a doubt be the No. 1 franchise defenseman for the Coyotes. So far this season, he has potted three goals and chipped in nine assists for 12 points, just 14 penalty minutes and is an impressive plus-9 in 19 games played. I’m not saying this kid is the next Erik Karlsson, but he’s nearly a lock to be an eventual perennial Norris contender and is worth snatching up in any keeper fantasy hockey league. So far this season, he’s averaged 25:23 of ice time per game.

Then, of course, there are the usual suspects, minus the injured Karlsson—Zdeno Chara, Shea Weber and even Brian Campbell.

What’s been encouraging to watch in Suter’s game is his composure with and without the puck. He plays a deceptively simple game, while making great outlet passes and elite plays at both ends of the ice. The guy is Minnesota’s defensive leader, and has no doubt improved the game of his defensive partner Jonas Brodin as much—or more—as Brodin has improved his. What has also been encouraging is seeing the way Suter is beginning to shoot the puck more. The guy has broken more than one stick in the past few games while unloading a stunning and unexpected slap shot from the point. If Minnesota’s top pairing can dial in their slappers, they could be just as deadly offensively as they are defensively.

So, in answer to the question in the title, yes, Ryan Suter deserves Norris Trophy consideration. Will this be the year he finally comes home from Las Vegas with the title of “Best Defenseman in the NHL”? Probably not, but that shouldn’t take away from what he’s doing in Minnesota. There’s a reason he was signed to a 13-year $98 million contract—he’s good—and he’s proving it every time he takes to the ice.