Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin placed third in the Norris Trophy voting, the NHL announced Tuesday, tying him for the highest finish in franchise history with Jim Schoenfeld in 1979-80.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski won the award for the first time, earning 1,589 points and 113 first-place votes. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar finished second, registering 1,191 points and 47 first-place votes.
Dahlin received 657 points and 13 first-place votes.
The Norris Trophy is awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. The winner was determined through a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
Dahlin, 26, experienced the best and most trying season of his career.
In training camp, the Swede revealed his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, suffered heart failure during the summer and spent several weeks on life support before undergoing a heart transplant.
Matovac, who joined Dahlin in Buffalo late in the season, later revealed in an Instagram post their baby’s due date would’ve been Jan. 26. Her worries about their unborn child forced her to see a doctor, and her life-threatening condition was discovered.
With the support of the organization, the captain led the Sabres to an Atlantic Division title and a long-awaited berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ending the Sabres’ NHL-record 14-year drought.
The Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins in the first round, their first series victory since 2007, before falling to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games.
Dahlin registered some gaudy numbers this season, scoring 19 goals and a career-high 74 points and in 77 games. Following his early-season trip to Sweden to visit Matovac, he recorded 18 goals, 65 points and a plus-29 rating in 63 contests.
He’s also a finalist for the Masterton Trophy for his dedication to hockey. Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award given to the coach of the year.
The Sabres haven’t had an award winner since 2009-10, when goalie Ryan Miller won the Vezina Trophy and Tyler Myers won the Calder Trophy.