Defensemen Makar, Dahlin, Werenski finalists for Norris Trophy
Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar will search his second straight Norris Trophy win, having been named a finalist for the award for the sixth straight season.
Makar joins Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabers and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets as finalists for the Norris, awarded annually to the defenseman who demonstrates “the greatest all-round ability in the position.” It’s voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Makar, 27, is in search of the third Norris win of his seven-season profession.
He had 79 factors in 75 video games for the Avalanche this season, a tick down by his lofty requirements — Makar’s 1.05 factors per recreation was the fifth-highest common of his profession. Makar’s plus-32 was his second-best profession score within the common season. Makar performed in all conditions for Colorado, with 4:11 in energy play time and skating 1:57 per recreation shorthanded. The Avalanche scored 64% of the objectives when Makar was on the ice at 5-on-5.
Dahlin, 26, was a driving pressure behind the Sabers ending the longest playoff drought in NHL historical past, having final made the lower in 2011. The Buffalo captain had a profession excessive 74 factors, which was the third-highest complete for a Sabers defenseman in franchise historical past. His 52 even-strength factors set a franchise file for defensemen. Dahlin skated 24:11 per recreation on common, contributing 22 factors within the energy play and bringing a bodily edge to his personal zone.
This is his first time as a Norris finalist, having completed sixth within the voting final season. Dahlin was also nominated for the Masterton Trophy for “perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”
Werenski, 28, led the Blue Jackets in scoring with 81 factors, good for second within the NHL in factors by a defenseman, together with a team-high 59 assists. He scored 18 of his 22 objectives at even power, which was greatest within the NHL. He was additionally second within the league in common ice time (26:37 per recreation), enjoying on the ability play (3:02) and short-handed (1:13) for the Jackets.
Werenski completed second to Makar within the Norris voting final season, the primary time he was a finalist for the award. In the ultimate week of this 12 months’s common season, he took the lead over Makar for the Norris in ESPN’s NHL Awards Watchwhich surveys ballots from present Norris Trophy voters.
Among the defensemen who did not make the Norris Trophy lower have been Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilerswho led all NHL defensemen with 95 factors in 82 video games; and Quinn Hugheswho was fourth on the Minnesota Wild with 53 factors in 48 video games after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks. Hughes gained the Norris in 2023-24 and was a finalist once more final season.
