Winning the Norris: How Roman Josi Became the World’s Best Defenseman

The accolade provides a sweet note for a man who has made Music City just as much of a home as the one that shaped him back in Switzerland.

There were goals and assists, stick checks and shot blocks, penalty kills and power plays and a myriad of moments that led those who vote on the award to reach the conclusion that no one was better on the blue line in 2019-20 than Josi.

But to understand how he became the best defenseman in the world, you first have to go back to the city of Bern and hear it from the people who know him best. Then, you must journey back across the Atlantic to witness how the boy turned into the man who now leads his club with the “C” on his sweater.

He’s too humble to admit it himself, but everyone else will say it for him. Roman Josi is one-of-a-kind, and no one deserves this moment more than him.

Peter and Doris welcomed their second son – and 2-year-old Yannick gained a baby brother – on the first day of June in 1990.

Roman was born in Bern, Switzerland, and from an early age, he displayed behavior typical of most boys, but with an extra dash of competitiveness.

“Roman was always in a good mood and always up for a joke,” his mother said. “That is why he was always very popular with his friends. And he was also a bit of a rascal, but he always knew where his limits were. He was always very carefree in his childhood.”

“He always wanted to win,” Peter said of his youngest son. “He played tennis with me or soccer with me, and he had no chance to win against me because he was a child. It wasn’t possible to win, but he was not happy with the situation. It was always a very ambitious thing he had all the time, to be the best.”

Yannick says he and his little brother never fought, much to the delight of their parents, but they always competed against one another while playing sports outside their home. Street hockey, tennis and soccer were common, and Roman was quite good at all three.

In fact, Doris says her son first wanted to be a professional soccer player while growing up before deciding to focus more on hockey around the age of 10 – and Yannick knows why.

“I remember when my brother wasn’t sure that he wanted to play hockey,” Yannick said. “But then after a game once, the coach said, ‘We never saw something like that [from a 10-year-old].”

Doris and Peter say they never had to force Roman to practice and train, he just always had the desire improve. They watched their son play on different teams – often with boys who were older than him, including his brother, Yannick, as well as fellow Preds defenseman Yannick Weber – and excel at virtually any challenge he was presented with.

They thought Roman was quite good, but it wasn’t until Peter heard others say the same that he believed his son might be able to make something out of his skill.

“We realized that he had a chance to play in professional hockey when he was asked to play more and more matches with the older age groups,” Peter said. “We were once at a tournament in Switzerland when I heard people say, ‘I didn’t know how good the guy with the No. 18 was,’ and that was Roman. Then I realized that this was probably the case. As parents, you always wear your parents’ rose-colored glasses, and you are never really sure that he is as good as you think. Every parent’s child is good, you know? But then we began to believe he could play professionally.”

Even then, playing in the National Hockey League wasn’t thought to be a possibility for a kid from Switzerland.

“He was good, but you never thought he could become an NHL pro,” Yannick said. “When we were kids, the NHL was so far away for Swiss people. We always have to play in Switzerland – this was the goal for us… Now, he wins the Norris? It’s crazy.”

Roman continued to advance through the best teams and leagues in his home country, and he eventually achieved his dream – to that point – of playing for SC Bern, his hometown club.

However, those in North America were also taking notice, and in 2008, the Predators called his name in the second round of the NHL Draft. In 2011, Roman came to the United States and played a full season with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. He appeared in five more games with the Ads that next season, but then he began his career in Nashville – and he hasn’t looked back.

Josi’s parents watch every game – Doris tunes in live for most of them, usually a 1 or 2 a.m. puck drop back in Bern, and Peter wakes up early to play it back around 5 a.m. or so. And yes, their jaws still drop with regularity.

“He surprises us every time he does something new,” Peter said. “He did some moves this season, and I thought, ‘That’s impossible.’ It’s unbelievable what he does on the ice sometimes.”

Peter and Doris didn’t have to teach their son much when it came to the game – his natural talent has always been there – but what they did give him will last long after his playing days are complete.

Roman’s personality – warm, friendly and welcoming – comes rushing to the forefront each and every time he interacts with another person, provided it doesn’t arrive in the heat of a skirmish.

“We parents are just as proud of his sporting success as we are of the way he is perceived as a person in public,” Peter said. “The fact that he is the captain of the Predators shows us he is also perceived positively as a personality. And I think his commitment to the people of Nashville makes us very proud. We know that Roman is very much at home in Nashville and is overjoyed that he was allowed to sign a long-term contract. And he will try to give back, in some way, off the ice.”

“He’s always that nice to everyone, and everyone loves him,” Yannick said of his brother. “My girlfriend’s grandmother, she’s never met Roman, she doesn’t know him, and she saw him interviewed a year ago – the first time she saw him – and she was just telling my girlfriend, ‘Oh, he’s such a nice guy.’ This was just in a two-minute interview, but he is like that… I never heard someone say they feel like he’s got a big head because he’s in the NHL now or he has money and he’s arrogant. He’s just a nice guy, and he treats everyone the same.”

And as for the Norris Trophy? The Josis never would have imagined their baby boy could accomplish such a feat.

But, how could they? Sometimes life brings moments never thought possible – which then instantly makes them more special.

“We almost can’t believe it, and as parents, you are indescribably proud,” Peter said. “There were so many milestones in his career, and at each such milestone, you just think, ‘Wow.’ Somehow, we always seem to go up. And now the Norris Trophy. Unbelievable. Another incredible milestone in his career.”

“It’s hard to say in words; it’s just crazy and unbelievable,” Yannick said. “The first time he played in Bern in the Swiss National League, he got on the ice and he immediately had an assist. Then he got drafted to Nashville, and now to get the Norris, it’s unbelievable. The next step is the Cup, but it’s unbelievable; hard to put into words.”

Roman Josi’s best friends all agree on a few things.

First, they’re all insanely proud of their companion on capturing the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. Two, laughing until their ribs tire is common when they’re all together. Third, Roman’s competitive fire burns brighter than most, and he despises losing.

They’ve all experienced this firsthand on many occasions, no matter the setting.

“I beat him like three out of five times on the tennis court, and he gets so mad,” Roman’s friend Kevin Ryser laughed. “That is always a huge fight, but I think I’m a little bit better tennis player than him. But we don’t want to make him mad or laugh at him, so I say, ‘Do you want to play tennis?’ And then he’s like, ‘OK, maybe not.'”

Roman doesn’t find himself inferior often, however, and that comes as no surprise to any of his buddies from back home in Switzerland.

Ryser, along with fellow friends Etienne Froidevaux and Manuel Zigerli, have a special bond with each other. They all played hockey with Roman at one point or another before the best of the group left to pursue his dream in North America, and in that time, they all saw how good Roman was and realized how much more he could do with his talents. Therefore, his success hasn’t necessarily come as a surprise.

“He is so competitive; it’s just part of his character,” Froidevaux said. “He was like this 15 years ago, and he’s probably going to be like this 15 years from now. As soon as there’s a competition… it always has to be about winning. He loves that.”

But winning the Norris Trophy? That’s in a class all by itself.

“He’s special, and in my opinion, he is the best defender in the League and in the world right now,” Zigerli said. “This trophy, it belongs to him this year. When I saw him play, he was so good, but back then, I wasn’t thinking he could reach that achievement. I was always thinking he’s going to be one of the top five best, but the last two or three years I really believed that he’s going to be the best.”

The on-ice skill was readily apparent from the very beginning, but Roman’s friends weren’t attracted to him because he was the best with a stick and a puck. Instead, they also saw he was the best person too.

“We’ve known each other since we were 5 or 6, and even though we don’t get to see each other as much as we did, we still have that bond and that’s really special,” Froidevaux said. “We’re really proud of what Roman has been doing, but all along he has managed to be the same kid like the one we grew up with.”

“He’s a down-to-earth guy, and he’s really cool and calm on one side, but on the other side he has a deep soul,” Zigerli said. “He’s just a really good guy. I think we all have such a strong bond. We can talk, and when he comes back after a long time, it’s like he comes back and everything is always the same with him. It’s never changed.”

Ryser’s and Roman’s parents are also close, so the two have known each other as long as they can remember. One of the first things Ryser noticed about his friend was his drive to be the best at everything, including on the tennis court.

And while Ryser may have gotten the best of him a time or two in that locale, very few – if any – can accomplish the same on the ice.

“I would say the biggest word to describe him would be relentless,” Ryser said. “In everything he does, he goes to the limit and he wants to be the best that he can. That’s a huge part of how good he is right now. He never stops. He flew under the radar for so long in the NHL, and he didn’t even care because he knew he gave his best, and he wants the best for the team and the best for the city. That’s just how he is. I always compare him to [tennis star, and Roman’s idol] Roger Federer. He’s that kind of athlete. He gives all he has with his whole heart. And when he knows he does his best and the best for the team, then he’s happy.”

Zigerli remembers a moment to encapsulate that description perfectly. He and Roman were teammates on the U20 Swiss National Team in the second division, and in a tournament finale, his friend took over when it mattered most.

“We were in the final against Belarus, I think, the score was 2-2 and if we scored, we could go up to the A division,” Zigerli recalled. “I remember he took the puck in overtime, did everything himself and he scored like it’s nothing. This dude has no pressure in his game at all. He was always like that.”

Moments like that carried Josi to play for SC Bern, before eventually making a name for himself in Nashville, a city the group of friends has now visited many times to see Roman star in gold.

Froidevaux says they “love the Lexus Lounge” inside Bridgestone Arena, but the thrill of seeing their childhood friend captain his club in the world’s best League triumphs over any other Music City entertainment.

“Sometimes we think, ‘Is this really true that one of our friends is such a star?'” Zigerli said. “But we don’t see him as a superstar, we see him as a friend.”

Their friend continues to make them proud thousands of miles away, and while they know the Norris is a monumental accomplishment for Roman, there’s something more that keeps that competitive nature churning.

No doubt they would be back in Nashville for the party someday.

“I know he’s going to enjoy winning the Norris, but like I said, he’s so relentless and competitive, and he’s not done – he’s done when he brings the Cup to Nashville,” Ryser said. “That’s when he’s done. He will not give up because he has this trophy now. It’s not that he’s satisfied and he has achieved whatever he wants. No. The guy has a plan. You want to bring the Cup to the city for the fans, and that’s all that matters right now.”

When they first appeared, Ellie Josi wondered why the letters “NT” were plastered throughout the house.

But then she realized what her hockey-playing husband was doing. He wanted his goals visualized out in the open – not just in his head. So, he began to place the characters, which stood for Norris Trophy, around their home.

Turns out that little exercise worked.

She’s married to the best blueliner in the world, and she knows exactly how he got there.

Ellie Ottaway met Roman Josi back in 2015, and was immediately struck by his good looks and easygoing personality. But she had never met a professional athlete before, and early impressions made her question whether he was being truthful about his occupation.

“I remember the first time we were hanging out, I said, ‘Roman, do you want to go on a walk or run or something?'” Ellie recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, he’s an athlete, he’ll probably want to go and be active.’ And I remember thinking when I first met him that he was the laziest person because he was like, ‘No, I just need to be on the couch, I need to save my energy for hockey.’ But I understand now.”

Unsurprisingly, Roman was quite humble when describing his abilities. Ellie wasn’t familiar with the NHL and the players, so she wasn’t aware she had landed one of the game’s up-and-coming stars.

“When we first met, I remember asking him – since I didn’t know much about hockey at the time – what kind of player he was and if he was good,” Ellie laughed. “And he actually told me he wasn’t any good. He was kidding, but I took it literally at the time since I had no idea and I hadn’t been to a Preds game. Then, I was talking to my uncle, who is a huge hockey guy, who told me, ‘You realize Roman Josi is one of the best defensemen in the world.’ Now that he’s won the Norris, I can finally believe it. He’s annoyingly humble, but I also love that about him.”

There was plenty more Ellie fell in love with over time, and the two were married in July of 2019 in front of family and friends from all over the world.

All of those who were in attendance that day know how genuine Roman is in everyday life, Ellie included, and she says he is truly himself at home around her and their two dogs, Kingsley and Bella. Ellie appreciates how her husband has grown in so many ways since they first met, and that has become especially apparent since Roman was named captain of the Predators back in 2018.

“I would say just how he can balance everything, that’s very impressive,” Ellie said. “He works on himself too. He’s not just going to the rink and only thinking about hockey. He has a mental coach, and he meditates and does all of these things for mental health, which I think is really important too. The way that he’s able to balance all those things that come along with being the captain of an NHL team is most impressive about him.”

Also attractive to Ellie is her husband’s sense of humor – she calls him a “goof” who can count on her to laugh at his “stupid jokes” – and she also confirmed something that already seemed to be rather apparent.

Roman cares a heck of a lot about his hair.

“I have seriously never seen him more aggravated or upset than when he has a bad hair day,” Ellie laughed. “He’ll be in the bathroom, and I’m like, ‘What’s going on?’ And he’s just so upset. I’m dying because he’s just looking at himself in the mirror, and he’s like, ‘I don’t know what to do with this.’ He’s crazy about his hair for sure.”

But maybe that’s why Roman is so good at what he does. No detail is too fine to overlook in any aspect of his life – especially with a mane like that to care for.

Ellie knows that passion every moment they’re together, and whether he’s fixing the flow or singlehandedly willing his team to victory, she knows her husband is more than deserving of the newest honor he’s received.

She may have needed a bit of time to realize just how good he is at what he does, but it’s never been more apparent than this very moment.

“My gosh, I have goosebumps thinking about it,” Ellie said of Roman winning the Norris. “I see it firsthand how hard he works every day and how badly he wanted this. I know he’s going to try to pull the humble card, but I just really want him to take this in and just let this moment be about him and no one else. I want people to love on him, because he’s so deserving of all this. I’m so proud of him.”

The how-to guide on becoming a Norris Trophy winner doesn’t exist, and it probably never will. Concocting a formula with just the right amount of skill, finesse and talent isn’t for scientists to pursue.

Instead, it’s reserved for a select few who put on a pair of skates and achieve things that once seemed impossible.

They bring us out of our seats and make us wonder, “How did he do that?” But that’s not for us to figure out. We’re just meant to watch in awe again and again.

So, if that’s how we feel, imagine how someone who has known him since that June day in 1990 views all of this.

“It’s just an amazing situation,” Peter said. “It’s your son. It’s the little boy you knew since he was a little boy. Now, he is one of the best players in Nashville and one of the best players in the NHL. It’s unbelievable. When the game is over, you go down to the locker room, you see Roman coming out and it’s just your son. It’s not something else, it’s just your son.”

He’s a son, a brother, a friend, a husband, a soon-to-be father, a captain, a mentor, an idol, a humanitarian and a Nashvillian.

And now, he’s a Norris Trophy winner.