Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is the 2024-25 Norris Trophy winner, the NHL announced on Wednesday.
The voting results were heavily one-sided in Makar’s favor. The Avs' blueliner earned 176 first-place votes and accumulated 1,861 voting points. He had 595 more voting points than Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, the first runner-up.
Only three blueliners received first-place votes by the Professional Hockey Writers Association: Makar, Werenski (13) and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes (2).
Hughes was the defending champion of the award but was injured for part of this season, hindering his chances of being the first player to win the award in two consecutive seasons since Niklas Lidstrom in 2008.
The 26-year-old was surprised with the trophy during a round of golf with his friends in Calgary, his hometown. After playing 11 rounds, the group stopped at Makar’s parents’ home, where they were waiting for him with the Norris.
Makar finished the regular season with 30 goals and 92 points, a career high in both categories. He’s also the first defenseman to finish in the top 10 of the NHL’s point leaders since Brent Burns with the San Jose Sharks in 2016-17. Burns had 29 goals and 76 points in that campaign.
The Colorado blueliner finished second on the team in points and goals behind Nathan MacKinnon’s 116 points and 32 tallies in the regular season.
A second Norris Trophy adds to what is already an impressive career with all the silverware Makar has brought home over the years. In addition to being the defenseman of the year twice, he also has a Calder Trophy, a Conn Smythe and a Stanley Cup. He has earned all these honors before turning 27 years old.
A few other D-men received second-place votes, including Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey with five votes. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman and Dallas Stars’ Thomas Harley received one second-place vote each.
Calder Trophy winner and Montreal Canadiens rookie Lane Hutson appeared on this list. He earned 42 points, finishing ninth in the vote. He finished higher than Jake Sanderson, Evan Bouchard and former Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox.
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