DENVER, CO - JANUARY 2: Erik Karlsson #65 of the San Jose Sharks skates prior to the game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center on January 2, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)

After a slow start for the San Jose Sharks, Erik Karlsson is back where he belongs in the midst of a heated Norris Trophy race.

When the San Jose Sharks traded for former Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson, people naturally had high expectations of him. But, like many players traded to new teams, he took some time to get used to his new teammates. By Karlsson’s standards, he got off to a very slow start, putting up just 15 points in 26 games through the end of November.

However, since then, the two-time Norris Trophy winner has gotten back on track. In his last 15 games, Karlsson has 20 points, including 19 assists. Through his first 41 games in a Sharks uniform, he has 35 points. As of Jan. 7, Karlsson is tied for seventh among defensemen in points.

Points, though, aren’t the only way to evaluate a defenseman. He has the third-highest five-on-five CorsiFor percentage relative, trailing only Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin. Critics might point to his unimpressive goal differential of merely +1. However, the Sharks haven’t gotten good goaltending and Karlsson’s not to blame for that.

When he’s on the ice, San Jose’s goalies stop just 89.17 percent of their shots at five-on-five, which is the seventh-lowest rate among defensemen with at least 500 minutes. Karlsson’s PDO (on-ice shooting percentage plus on-ice save percentage) is at 97.3. If that regresses to around 100, he’ll have a much better chance of winning his third Norris.

Despite his goal numbers, there’s no reason Karlsson shouldn’t be in the Norris Trophy discussion. Sure, his production might be down. But just think – in a “down year”, he’s still the seventh-most productive defenseman in the NHL. And Karlsson’s putting up outstanding underlying numbers. In fact, they’re some of the strongest of his career.

There’s no true Norris Trophy front-runner this year. Brent Burns, John Carlson, Mark Giordano, Letang, Morgan Rielly, and Roman Josi all deserve consideration. As does Karlsson. If he gets back to the top of the scoring leaderboard for defensemen, don’t be surprised if he wins his third Norris Trophy.

Frankly, would anyone be surprised if he pulls it off? If Karlsson does, he’ll further increase his price tag going into the 2019 offseason, when he’s scheduled to hit the free agent market.