The 2015-16 season has been an inconsistent one for the Carolina Hurricanes, but if one thing has remained constant, it's been the incredible play of defenseman Justin Faulk.
Already named to the Metropolitan Division team for All-Star weekend, Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters believes there should be even more accolades in line for the 23-year-old. Peters told reporters that Faulk's name should be in any conversations for the Norris Trophy.
"Don't ask me who's on that list," Peters said, after suggesting any list of the league's top-10 defensemen shouldn't leave out the St. Paul, Minn. native.
Peters certainly has a case, as Faulk's 12 power-play goals have him one behind Patrick Kane for the NHL lead, and just six back of the league record for his position, set by Sheldon Souray in the 2006-07 season.
His 31 points leave him tied for fourth among all blue-liners, but the reality of logging heavy minutes on a struggling team has contributed to a minus-13 rating, which is tied for fifth-worst among all defensemen.
But with his team, surprisingly, sitting just four points out of a playoff spot with just under half their season remaining, continued production from Faulk along with improved team performance would certainly give the Professional Hockey Writer's Association voters more to think about.
