Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar wins second Norris Trophy as top NHL defenseman
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won his second Norris Trophy on Wednesday, taking a step toward cementing himself as the dominant blueliner of this NHL generation.
Makar bested Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski in a vote by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association. It is Makar's second Norris Trophy victory and first since 2022.
That's two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar to you. 🫵 #NHLAwards
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."
Read more: https://t.co/AL0ejOKBXr pic.twitter.com/PMbuMq9wSS
— NHL (@NHL) June 11, 2025
Only Erik Karlsson, a three-time winner now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has earned more Norris Trophies among active defensemen than Makar.
The 26-year-old Makar has been a finalist every season this decade. Though Hughes, the Norris winner in 2024, figures to forge a fierce rivalry with him in the coming seasons, Makar could challenge to join a select group of four players to win the Norris Trophy at least four times.
This season, Makar's sixth with the Colorado Avalanche, harkened to when 1980s defensemen such as Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque regularly posted eye-popping offensive statistics. Makar led defensemen in each of the major offensive categories with 30 goals, 62 assists, and 92 points in 2024-25, finishing in overall scoring.
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Only nine defensemen have scored at least 30 goals in a regular season. Makar was the first since the Washington Capitals' Mike Green in 2008-09.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is annually awarded 'to the defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position,' according to its criteria. It was first handed out in 1953 by Norris' four children in memory of their late father, who owned the Detroit Red Wings from 1932-52.
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