Aarif Deen
Two-time Norris Trophy winner and Avalanche superstar defenseman Cale Makar is a finalist for the James Norris Trophy yet again. The Norris is awarded to the top defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.
Makar finished the 2025-26 season with 20 goals, 59 assists, and 79 points in 75 games. It’s his fourth career 20-goal season.
Makar has been a finalist for the award in every season since his rookie year in 2019-20. He won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. The following season began a run of six straight years as a finalist for the award.
In 2021, Makar was narrowly defeated by New York Rangers blueliner Adam Fox in what is his only runner-up finish to date. He was also third in voting in 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Makar has two Norris Trophy wins, capturing it for the first time in the 2021-22 season before becoming just the 14th multi-time winner (second active blueliner) in 2024-25.
Along with Makar, the other finalists are Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Werenski was last year’s runner-up, making it his second consecutive season as a finalist. Dahlin is a first-time finalist for the award, as he continues a postseason run with the Sabres for the first time in his career.
How The Selke Is Awarded
The leadership of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association picks a select handful of writers from each hockey market to vote on annual awards such as the Norris, Selke, Hart, Byng, and more. Each selected writer is to vote for five players, ranked in order from first to fifth, and submit it to the league after the regular season is completed and before the playoffs commence.
For the fifth season in a row, I was among the voters. Although I can’t share my votes until the awards are announced, I can confirm that Makar was on my Norris Trophy ballot.