Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar gained his second Norris Trophy on Wednesday, taking a step towards cementing himself because the dominant blueliner of this NHL era.
Makar bested Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski in a vote by choose members of the Skilled Hockey Writers’ Affiliation. It’s Makar’s second Norris Trophy victory and first since 2022.
That is two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar to you. 🫵 #NHLAwards
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded yearly “to the protection participant who demonstrates all through the season the best all-round potential within the place.”
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Solely Erik Karlsson, a three-time winner now with the Pittsburgh Penguins, has earned extra Norris Trophies amongst lively defensemen than Makar.
The 26-year-old Makar has been a finalist each season this decade. Although Hughes, the Norris winner in 2024, figures to forge a fierce rivalry with him within the coming seasons, Makar might problem to hitch a choose group of 4 gamers to win the Norris Trophy at the least 4 instances.
Most Norris Trophy victories
| Defenseman
| Norris wins
|
|---|---|
| Bobby Orr | 8 |
| Doug Harvey | 7 |
| Nicklas Lidstrom | 7 |
| Raymond Bourque | 4 |
This season, Makar’s sixth with the Colorado Avalanche, harkened again to when Nineteen Eighties defensemen comparable to Paul Coffey and Ray Bourque usually posted eye-popping offensive statistics. Makar led defensemen in every of the foremost offensive classes with 30 targets, 62 assists, and 92 factors in 2024-25. His 92 factors had been good for ninth within the league amongst all gamers.
Solely 9 defensemen have scored at the least 30 targets in an everyday season. Makar was the primary for the reason that Washington Capitals’ Mike Inexperienced in 2008-09.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy is yearly awarded “to the defensive participant who demonstrates all through the season the best all-around potential within the place,” based on its standards. It was first handed out in 1953 by Norris’ 4 youngsters in reminiscence of their late father, who owned the Detroit Crimson Wings from 1932-52.
(Picture: Isaiah J. Downing / Imagn Photographs)
