Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin and Zach Werenski were named finalists for the Norris Trophy, with Makar seeking a second straight win and his third overall in a seven-season career, the report says. The award, given annually to the defenseman who demonstrates “the greatest all-round ability in the position,” is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, per the report.
Makar, 27, posted 79 points in 75 games this season, a slight dip from his usual production, and his 1.05 points per game ranked as the fifth-highest average of his career, the report says. He finished the regular season at plus-32, his second-best career rating, and saw deployment in all situations, averaging 4:11 on the power play and 1:57 shorthanded per game. Colorado scored 64% of its 5-on-5 goals with Makar on the ice, the report adds.
Dahlin, 26, was credited in the report as a driving force behind Buffalo ending the franchise’s long playoff drought dating to 2011. The Sabres captain had a career-high 74 points, the third-highest total for a Sabres defenseman, and set a franchise mark with 52 even-strength points by a defenseman. Dahlin averaged 24:11 of ice time per game, contributed 22 power-play points and was noted for adding a physical element in his own zone. The report notes this is Dahlin’s first time as a Norris finalist; he finished sixth in the voting last season and was also nominated for the Masterton Trophy.
Werenski, 28, led the Columbus Blue Jackets with 81 points and ranked second among NHL defensemen in scoring, recording a team-high 59 assists, according to the report. He scored 18 of his 22 goals at even strength, the most in the league, and averaged 26:37 of ice time per game, including 3:02 on the power play and 1:13 shorthanded. Werenski finished second to Makar in last season’s Norris voting. In the final week of the regular season he took the lead over Makar in ESPN’s NHL Awards Watch, according to ESPN.
The report also noted notable defensemen who did not make the finalist list, including Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard, who led all NHL defensemen with 95 points in 82 games, and Quinn Hughes, who had 53 points in 48 games for the Minnesota Wild after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks; Hughes won the Norris in 2023-24 and was a finalist again last season, the report says.
