Adam Fox, in what might be viewed by many as a mild surprise, was named the winner of the James Norris Trophy as best defenseman in the league. For those of us who watched him day-in and day-out, this vote is no surprise. We were concerned that his failure to score the last five games of the season and the team's record in the last six contests of the year might have been a contributing factor against his candidacy, but that clearly proved not to be the case. In addition, he finished 13th in the Hart Trophy voting for good measure and made the First All-Star Team.

#FoxWonNorris

That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/T0TdH8URPd

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 29, 2021

Adam Fox of the @NYRangers is the 2020-21 recipient of the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position," as selected by the PHWA. #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/2ha9pmwykd pic.twitter.com/8sFQuyWKWz

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 29, 2021

Congratulations to @foxyclean, who has been awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy for his exceptional play!

In only his second NHL season, the @NYRangers blueliner led all defencemen with 42 assists while averaging 24:42/GP. #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/V6CUZgsTer

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) June 29, 2021

NORRIS TROPHY WINNER ADAM FOX pic.twitter.com/a7AsfUmw0T

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) June 29, 2021

Presenting the 2020-21 @NHL First All-Star Team, with career First Team selections in parentheses:
Andrei Vasilevskiy (2)
Adam Fox (1)
Cale Makar (1)
Connor McDavid (4)
Mitchell Marner (1)
Brad Marchand (2)#NHLAwards #NHLStats: https://t.co/ZGRminqH61 pic.twitter.com/aGMIDvP4wU

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 30, 2021

Fox, a Jericho, NY native, finished first on 40 of the 100 ballots, in the top-three of 93 ballots and was named on 99 of the 100 ballots (I vote we find who left him off the ballot and tar and feather that person). He finished 88 points ahead of Cale Makar and 310 points north of Victor Hedman. Not bad for a player, who became just the second player in league history - along with Bobby Orr to win the Norris within the first two years of entering the league.

Here's what the final vote looked like.

Fox finished with 743 points and 40 first-place votes.

Cale Makar was actually second (that's where I had him, too), with Victor Hedman finishing third. #NYR pic.twitter.com/LMhtvp8D9c

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) June 29, 2021

Adam Fox is the second defenseman in League history to take home the Norris Trophy in his second NHL season (or earlier), after Bobby Orr accomplished the feat in 1967-68 (2nd NHL season w/ BOS). #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/2ha9pmwykd pic.twitter.com/2uGaRSysmL

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 29, 2021

Drafted by Calgary, Fox went to Carolina in the Elias Lindholm-Dougie Hamilton deal. Fox came to the Rangers for a pair of picks, including a third rounder that became a second rounder, in a deal that has been proven to be a steal for the Blueshirts. He was presented the award by Brian Leetch, a former Norris winner and Ranger, who Fox looked up to as a kid and has emulated his game as he matured.

First-time winner Adam Fox is presented the James Norris Memorial Trophy by Brian Leetch! #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/XKtuaBIx0D

— NHL (@NHL) June 30, 2021

And from this moment on, he'll be known as 𝑵𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒔 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒚 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝒅𝒂𝒎 𝑭𝒐𝒙. pic.twitter.com/BV9gnk5pom

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 29, 2021

What set Fox - who finished the season with five goals and 42 assists - apart was his ability to control the game from the back end. He was especially dangerous on the man-advantage, but generated offense 5x5 while defensively, showing an uncanny ability to thwart attacks and avoid hits in his own zone. Fox can get even better defensively, which hopefully will happen as he matures and the game slows down even more for him, if possible.

Playing in his second NHL season with the @NYRangers, @foxyclean ranked among the top defensemen in assists (1st; 42), points (2nd; 47), power-play assists (2nd; 21), takeaways (3rd; 38) and power-play points (3rd; 23) in 55 games. #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/2ha9pmwykd pic.twitter.com/rT5V9K30JC

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 29, 2021

Rangers announcement of Adam Fox's Norris Trophy win: #NYR pic.twitter.com/iMWTHRgRKA

— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) June 29, 2021

In other league award news, K'Andre Miller made first team All-Rookie on defense while Igor Shesterkin was second team, behind Alex Nedeljkovic, who was a Calder Trophy finalist.

Presenting the 2020-21 NHL All-Rookie Team:

Alex Nedeljkovic of the @Canes
K’Andre Miller of the @NYRangers
Ty Smith of the @NJDevils
Kirill Kaprizov of the @mnwild
Josh Norris of the @Senators
Jason Robertson of the @DallasStars#NHLAwards #NHLStats: https://t.co/5Nc2BQfKHh pic.twitter.com/V4agjgIkaO

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 30, 2021

In the Calder voting, Sheshterkin finished fifth while Miller was 12th. If Alexis Lafreniere needed any motivation, his failure to break the top-20 in voting should be all that is required. Looking to next season, could Vitali Kravtsov or Nils Lundqvist, if he breaks camp or is promoted early, be possible rookie of the year award finalists?

Forward Kirill Kaprizov of the @mnwild is the 2020-21 recipient of the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition,” as selected by the PHWA. #NHLAwards#NHLStats: https://t.co/ajCkyTSxid pic.twitter.com/xIuDgwHFxg

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 29, 2021

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