Matt Slocum/Associated PressNew York Rangers blueliner Adam Fox won the 2020-21 James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is the NHL's highest defenseman.The 23-year old beat out stiff competition to win the honor. He was chosen over Cale Makar from the Colorado Avalanche, and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won in 2018.Fox quickly became a top player on both ends of the ice in his second NHL season.He scored five goals and had 42 assists in 55 regular-season games. This netted him 47 points. He had a plus-19 rating, averaged 24.42 minutes of ice time per match, and also earned a plus-19 rating.Fox was first among defensemen in assists and second in points, behind only Edmonton Oilers defenceman Tyson Barrie's 48, and 11th in average ice time.Fox was also a great power-play player, finishing second behind Hedman with 24 power-play points.Fox was a third round draft pick by the Calgary Flames in 2016. However, his rights were sold to the Carolina Hurricanes for a 2018 third-rounder. In 2019, Carolina traded Fox's rights to the Rangers for a second round pick.He was a Harvard graduate who quickly became the Rangers' best defenseman. He scored 42 points and earned a plus-22 rating in his rookie season in 2019-20.Fox was fourth in the Calder Trophy voting for rookie of the Year behind Quinn Hughes and Makar of Vancouver Canucks, as well as Dominik Kubalik of Chicago Blackhawks.One year later, Makar and Hughes were defeated by the Jericho, New York native, and he was voted the best defenseman in the NHL.Fox is the youngest Norris recipient since P.K., the then-Montreal Canadiens defenceman. Subban won the Norris at 23 years old in 2013. He is also the first Rangers player ever to be awarded the award since Brian Leetch's 1997 win.
