Brent Burns earns 1st Norris Trophy

San Jose Sharks defenseman Brent Burns took home the Norris Trophy on Wednesday night as the NHL's top rearguard of the 2016-17 campaign.

Burns is coming off one of the more impressive offensive seasons by a defenseman in recent memory, leading the NHL in scoring by a blue-liner with 76 points - good enough for ninth-best in the league.

Last year's runner-up, Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, and Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman were the other two nominees for the award.

Burns, 32, picks up the first Norris Trophy of his 13-year career.