This week, it's time to dive back into our Norris Trophy rankings, and things have shifted since our last look. Initially, it seemed like Cale Makar had the award in the bag, but the landscape has changed.
Two of our top contenders, Makar and Quinn Hughes, have already tasted Norris Trophy glory. Despite their stellar performances this season, the honor might just slip past them. The real battle seems to be between Evan Bouchard and Zach Werenski, with Bouchard making a compelling late-season push.
Bouchard is on track to rack up 94 points, a feat that would rank third over the past 33 years. Yet, Werenski's steady consistency might just clinch it for him, especially if he can lead the Columbus Blue Jackets into their first postseason since 2020. That would make his first piece of NHL hardware even sweeter.
Let’s break it down:
5. Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
Lane Hutson is building on his Calder Trophy-winning season and looks like a future Norris Trophy winner. This year might not be his, but his stats are hard to ignore. At 22, he's posted 73 points, 62 assists, and is tied with Makar for second in even-strength points (54) and primary assists (30) among defensemen.
4. Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
Quinn Hughes might not snag the Norris this year, but his move to the Minnesota Wild mid-season has been electric. Since joining on Dec.
14, Hughes has matched Hutson for second-most points (49) among defensemen and has the third-highest points per game (1.17). His overall stats are impressive with 33 power-play points, 32 primary assists, and leading in ice time at 27:47.
3. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Cale Makar's bid for a third Norris Trophy is looking shaky. An upper-body injury against the Calgary Flames sidelines him, but his decline started earlier.
Since Dec. 14, he's ranked 10th in points per game (0.90) among defensemen. Despite this, Makar still boasts the third-most points (75) and power-play points (29), with 30 primary assists, tied with Hutson.
2. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
Evan Bouchard's offensive prowess is undeniable, even with the advantage of playing alongside Connor McDavid. In 23 games since Jan.
24, Bouchard has tallied 37 points, trailing only McDavid and Kucherov in that stretch. His performance is a testament to his skill, not just McDavid’s influence.
1. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Zach Werenski stands as the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy. Fresh off a gold-medal run with Team USA at the 2026 Olympics, Werenski's season could reach a new high with this award.
With the Blue Jackets clinging to a wild-card spot, Werenski’s season is nothing short of remarkable. He's second in points (78), leads in even-strength goals (18) and points (57), and is tied for the most points per game (1.15) with Bouchard.
As the season winds down, these defensemen are making their cases, and the race for the Norris Trophy is heating up. Keep an eye on these names as we head into the final stretch.