The NHL has started running out their individual award winners for this past season, and some have been guarenteed, and some have been complete surprises. One of those surprises didn't come from the winner of the Norris Trophy for best defenseman in the NHL, but how the vote pertained to the St. Louis Blues.
That vote proved just how great the defensive unit was a whole, and let me explain why.
No votes for Norris
It is a complete head-scratcher as to why at least one member of the Blues' blue line did not get a single vote for the big award. The vote consists of various hockey writers from around the country, and they vote for first-place through fifth-place. Here is the complete list.
Final voting results for the 2024-25 Norris Trophy: pic.twitter.com/oJWXDnBpP3
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) June 11, 2025
As you can see, there is not one single member of the Blues roster on that list, and that proves just how great they were. There was no singled-out, over-performing player, but a complete unit overall.
Top-tier offensive numbers
The Blues had a tie for the third-most goals scored as a defensive unit this past season, with 46 total alongside the Seattle Kraken. Colton Parayko had the team lead with 16 goals from the blue line. If he hadn't gotten injured inside the final two months of the season, there is an alternate universe where he eclipsed the 20-goal mark, joining Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and Jakub Chychrun to do so.
That was followed by a set of new acquisitions, with Cam Fowler scoring nine and Philip Broberg scoring eight goals. That is solid production, and it paid its dividends at the end of the season and the first-round playoff series.
2025-26 should be a different story
There is a good chance that the Blues' blue line is going to be moved around and changed this offseason. Justin Faulk is on the trade block, Ryan Suter might retire, and Torey Krug's departure from St. Louis is all but official. That is three big holes to fill, so free agency will be a great place to look for improving this unit even further.
Former Norris Trophy nominee Aaron Ekblad is going to be a target for the Blues this July 1, and he could change the entire landscape of this team.
In 2025-26, it could be a repeat performance from the blue line, or it could be a lot worse. There is no telling which way it will go until the season gets rolling. But, there is no denying that this season's Norris Trophy vote proved that the Blues were not singularly good, but collectively good.