Lightning’s Victor Hedman wins first Norris Trophy as NHL’s top defenceman

LAS VEGAS – Victor Hedman has his first Norris Trophy.

The Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman took home the honour as the NHL’s top blue liner for the 2017-18 regular season at Wednesday’s awards show in Las Vegas.

Hedman scored 17 goals — a personal best — this season to finish in a three-way tie for first among the league’s defencemen.

The 27-year-old Swede added 46 assists for his second 60-plus point season after finishing third in Norris voting last year.

Hedman beat out Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and P.K. Subban of the Nashville Predators.

A finalist for the fourth time, Doughty had a career-high 60 points (10 goals, 50 assists) and led the NHL in average ice time (26:50). The 28-year-old won the Norris in 2016.

Subban, also 28, had a career-high 16 goals and was one point shy of his hitting 60 for the second time in his career. A finalist for the third time, he won the Norris in 2013.