The praise did not have to be pried from Paul Coffey's lips.

The Hockey Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion has never met Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi.

Well, not in the traditional sense.

That doesn't mean Coffey isn't aware of Josi. The two talked virtually in 2020, when he presented Josi with the Norris Trophy, an award Coffey won three times during his 21-year NHL career.

At the time, Josi said he was humbled to receive the award from "such a legend of the game."

Josi again is a frontrunner for the award this season, one that has been stuffed with numbers not seen by a defenseman in a long time.

"You know what I like about him, other than everything?" Coffey recently told The Tennessean.

PREDS: How the Nashville Predators can clinch an NHL playoff berth

NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Why Nashville Predators coach John Hynes said Roman Josi is 'best defenseman in the game'

PLAYOFFS: As Nashville Predators near the playoffs, how much can they do once there? | Estes

Coffey, whose seven 90-point seasons are most in league history for defensemen, needed no pause on the way to answering his own question. He's also second in NHL history in goals, assists and points behind Ray Bourque.

"Just his consistency," he continued. "He's good year after year after year. This year, offensively, is a real special year for him. That's a lot of points. Good for him.

"There's not a GM in the league who wouldn't take him. He can play any way you want.

Josi became the ninth defenseman to reach the 90-point mark in a season, setting career highs in goals and assists along the way. He's the first one to reach 90 since Bourque did in 1993-94.

With three games remaining, beginning Tuesday against the Calgary Flames, Josi isn't likely to become the first defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-92 to hit 100, a feat reached by Coffey five times.

But his 91 points already were a franchise record and led all players at his position. So, too, did his 70 assists. And his 10 power-play goals. And his 36 power-play points. His 21 goals were second only to Colorado's Cale Makar.

Makar, Coffey figures, is the other horse in the Norris race, along with Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman, who recently said he'd choose Josi for the award.

"All three of those guys, that's what the final three is going to be," said Coffey, a skills development coach with the Edmonton Oilers. "They're all Norris Trophy guys in my mind."

Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Paul Coffey talks Nashville Predators Roman Josi: Hockey Hall of Famer