Makar wins 2nd career Norris Trophy 4w553z
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won his second career Norris Trophy, the league announced Wednesday. 5e322l
The Norris Trophy, voted on by of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, is given "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."
Makar earned 176 out of 191 first-place votes, beating out fellow finalists Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and 2024 winner Quinn Hughes, captain of the Vancouver Canucks. Here's the top 10:
| Rank | Player | Points | (1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cale Makar | 1861 | (176-13-2-0-0) |
| 2. | Zach Werenski | 1266 | (13-132-38-7-1) |
| 3. | Quinn Hughes | 918 | (2-39-110-21-12) |
| 4. | Josh Morrissey | 280 | (0-5-18-41-32) |
| 5. | Victor Hedman | 265 | (0-1-11-55-38) |
| 6. | Rasmus Dahlin | 120 | (0-0-4-26-22) |
| 7. | Thomas Harley | 60 | (0-1-1-7-27) |
| 8. | Jaccob Slavin | 60 | (0-0-2-13-11) |
| 9. | Lane Hutson | 42 | (0-0-1-5-22) |
| 10. | Jake Sanderson | 33 | (0-0-0-9-6) |
Makar led all defensemen with 92 points during the regular season, 10 clear of second-place Werenski. The 26-year-old also became the ninth defenseman ever, and just the second in the last 30 years, to score 30 goals in a campaign.
Since winning the Calder Trophy in his 2019-20 rookie season, Makar has never finished worse than third in Norris Trophy voting. He previously won the award in 2022, when he scored 86 points.
He's the 14th defenseman in NHL history to win multiple Norris Trophies and just the second active player to do so, ing Erik Karlsson.
Makar also took home the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022, helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup with a team-leading 29 points in 20 playoff games.
Regarded as one of the NHL's most gifted skaters, Makar ranked in the 98th percentile in top skating speed (23.63 mph) and the 99th percentile with 206 speed bursts over 20 mph in 2024-25, per NHL Edge Stats.