Avalanche star Cale Makar has been voted the NHL’s top defenseman and will take home the 2025 James Norris Memorial Trophy, the league announced Wednesday.
It’s the second time taking home the Norris for Makar, who became the first defenseman in Avalanche franchise history to win it when he was crowned the league’s best rearguard following the 2021-22 season. He was the clear favorite for the award, becoming the first D-man to hit 30 goals and 90 points in the same season since Paul Coffey in 1988-89 while finishing the year with a 10-point lead in scoring among defenseman ahead of the Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski, although the two tied with 54 even-strength points.
Among defensemen, Makar also ranked 11th in plus-minus (+28), first in points per game (1.15), second in shots on goal (246), and third in average time on ice (25:43). He also recorded 128 blocks, the second-highest mark of his six-year career. Makar’s possession impacts once again flourished after an unusually subpar defensive showing in 2023-24, controlling 56.6% of shot attempts and a career-high 59.4% of expected goals at even strength.
The 6’0″ righty finished ahead of Werenski and Canucks lefty Quinn Hughes for the award. Makar received 176 first-place votes and 1,861 total points, while Werenski was the runner-up with 13 first-place votes and 1,266 points. The full voting breakdown is as follows, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic:
- Makar – 1,861 points (176-13-2-0-0)
- Werenski – 1,266 points (13-132-38-7-1)
- Hughes – 918 points (2-39-110-21-12)
- Josh Morrissey, Jets – 280 (0-5-18-41-32)
- Victor Hedman, Lightning – 265 (0-1-11-55-38)
- Rasmus Dahlin, Sabres – 120 (0-0-4-26-22)
- Thomas Harley, Stars – 60 (0-1-1-7-27)
- Jaccob Slavin, Hurricanes – 60 (0-0-2-13-11)
- Lane Hutson, Canadiens – 42 (0-0-1-5-22)
- Jake Sanderson, Senators – 33 (0-0-0-9-6)
- Evan Bouchard, Oilers – 29 (0-0-2-4-7)
- Adam Fox, Rangers – 9 (0-0-1-0-4)
- Gustav Forsling, Panthers – 8 (0-0-1-0-3)
- Ryan McDonagh, Lightning – 5 (0-0-0-1-2)
- Devon Toews, Avalanche – 4 (0-0-0-1-1)
- John Carlson, Capitals – 3 (0-0-0-1-0)
- Jakob Chychrun, Capitals – 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
Brock Faber, Wild – 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
Shea Theodore, Golden Knights – 1 (0-0-0-0-1)
Makar’s run of dominance to begin his career is putting him on a fast track to Hall-of-Fame status. He’s now the sixth player to win at least two Norrises in the first six seasons of his NHL career, and he’s been a finalist for the award in every year since his rookie season. He still finished in the top 10 in voting while winning the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year in 2019-20.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.