When the PHWA announced its mid-season award nominees and winners back in January, there weren’t many interesting decisions. For the first time, the PHWA voted for the Rod Langway Award, the trophy for the NHL’s defenseman who ‘best excels in the defensive aspect of the game’. While Victor Hedman landed third in voting for that award, he was left out of the top three for the Norris Trophy (which he won last season).
Instead, the PWHA named Mark Giordano, Morgan Rielly, and Brent Burns as their top three nominees. Hedman’s slower-than-usual offensive start to the season likely hurt his chances to land on that list at that time.