Cale Makar might've won the Norris Trophy on Wednesday. After all, that's what you get when you score 30 goals and 62 assists in a season (the ninth defenseman to score 30 or more in a season). However, a Vegas Golden Knights defenseman got some love in the voting process.
Shea Theodore received one vote in the table, albeit a fifth-place vote. He might've gotten one point in the whole ordeal, tying himself with the Washington Capitals' Jakob Chychrun and the Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber. But merely being recognized is good enough for the 29-year-old.
Scoring a career-high 50 assists (17 on the power play) for the Golden Knights deserves some consideration. It's part of why he got a nifty seven-year contract extension worth $51.975 million. Nobody just hands those contracts out to average Joes, especially if they play dodgeball.
Theodore getting one vote is a testament to the Golden Knights' strength
The Golden Knights are blessed to have plenty of defensemen at their disposal. Having eight viable starters for your pairings is something most teams wish they had. Theodore's latest accomplishment is a testament to this, capping off a career year with recognition.
Yes, Alex Pietrangelo (four goals and 29 assists) had a down year. Yes, there are trade rumors surrounding Nicolas Hague. However, the group has been an underrated part of Vegas's success for some time.
That unit will be vital for the team to carry that over into next season. There are rumblings like an empty stomach about a big move happening. That starts with Theodore quarterbacking various units, acting as a proverbial leader.
Take your pick of his strengths. Maybe it's setting up rebounds for his teammates. Perhaps it's running the power play, which was the second-best in the NHL this past season (28.3%). Whatever the case, this is the prime of Theodore's career. Buckle up, Golden Knights fans, because you're in for the ride of your lives.