The Norris Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL's top defenseman, as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It honors the player who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in the position throughout the regular season. Named after James E. Norris, a former owner of the Detroit Red Wings, the award celebrates defensive excellence in hockey.
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Cale Makar has officially won the Norris Trophy in 2025. He garnered 176 out of the 191 possible first-place votes to snag the award. This is officially his second Norris Trophy and the first time he has won it since the 2021-2022 season. Zach Werenski had 13 first-place votes, while Quinn Hughes had two first-place votes. Now, many expect Makar to repeat, as he continues to be one of the best defenders in the NHL.
The odds for the 2026 Norris Trophy are officially out, and unsurprisingly, Makar has the shortest odds to repeat, with -475 odds. Quinn Hughes is right behind him at +350 odds. For a broader look, check out our table 👇
| Player | Odds |
| Cale Makar | -750 |
| Zach Werenski | +800 |
| Quinn Hughes | +1000 |
| Jakub Chychrun | +2800 |
| Matthew Schaefer | +5000 |
| Miro Heiskanen | +5000 |
| Josh Morrissey | +6000 |
| Lane Hutson | +8000 |
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This year is no different than last, where we have previous winners in a tight race to win the right to be called the best defensemen in the NHL. Cale Makar took it last season, and will look to become a three-time champion.
Cale Makar, the Colorado Avalanche's star defenseman, is the frontrunner and absolute favorite for the Norris Trophy this season. Having previously won the award in 2022, Makar had an even better season this year, leading all defensemen with 91 points in 79 games. Makar is now a two-time Norris Trophy winner after nabbing 176 first-place votes. Now, many expect him to repeat and claim the trophy again.
Quinn Hughes, the Vancouver Canucks' captain, is a close second for the Norris Trophy this season. After securing the award in the 2023–24 season, he fell just short of repeating in the 2024-25 season. Now, Hughes looks to take back his Norris Trophy, and the betting odds have him at +400 right now.
Zach Werenski, defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets, will once again have the third-best odds to win the Norris Trophy. Werenski has never won the Norris Trophy, but has come close. Currently, he has the third-best odds at +1500, but that can change as the season continues.
There's a pretty steep drop-off between the top 3 defensemen in the NHL and the rest, but anything can happen, so let's take a look at the best dark horse candidate to win.
Jakob Chychrun has quietly bolstered his case for the Norris Trophy with a breakout stretch — posting career highs in goals and overall production while anchoring the defense for the Washington Capitals. Known for his blistering shot and offensive instincts, he’s become a power‑play quarterback and a major driving force on transition and zone‑exits. As long as he maintains strong two‑way play and stays healthy, Chychrun deserves to be considered among the top defensemen in the Norris conversation, even if he remains behind obvious favorites like Cale Makar.
Matthew Schaefer is an intriguing young defenseman fresh off being selected first overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders. Even in his rookie season, he’s shown offensive polish — rushing the puck, quarterbacking plays from the blue line, and earning trust at both ends of the ice.
Heiskanen has never even been a finalist. Yet, oddsmakers currently have him fourth. As we enter the free-agency period, Heiskanen is at +3000 odds to win the Norris Trophy, and another strong showing in Dallas could certainly vault him into the contenders' race.
Lane Hutson has been nothing short of sensational for the Canadiens, showcasing elite skating, vision, and offensive creativity from the blue line. His ability to quarterback the power play, drive transition, and contribute at both ends of the ice has already put him in early Norris Trophy discussions despite his young age. If he maintains this level of play, Hutson could quickly become one of the most dominant defensemen in the league.
Josh Morrissey remains a serious contender for the Norris Trophy this season — his blend of offensive production and defensive reliability keeps him among the league’s top defensemen. With multiple seasons of 60+ points under his belt, strong puck‑movement, and heavy minutes in all situations (power play, penalty kill, even strength), he’s built a compelling case, even if there are elite competitors like Cale Makar
| Season | Winner |
| 2024-25 | Cale Makar |
| 2023-24 | Quinn Hughes |
| 2022-23 | Erik Kalsson |
| 2021-22 | Cale Makar |
| 2020-21 | Adam Fox |
| 2019-20 | Roman Josi |
| 2018-19 | Mark Giordano |
| 2017-18 | Victor Hedman |
| 2016-17 | Brent Burns |
| 2015-16 | Drew Doughtry |
Other NHL In Season Awards:
The Norris Trophy is awarded yearly to the best defenseman in the NHL. The winner is determined after a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association based on their performance on defense, their offensive output, and leadership in guiding their teams.
Cale Makar has officially won the Norris Trophy in 2025. Makar is also the current favorite to win the Norris Trophy again in the 2025-26 season, with DraftKings having him at -750 odds to repeat, while Zach Werenski is next at +800 odds.
Yes. The odds for the Norris Trophy in 2025-26 came out almost immediately after Cale Makar was awarded this season. Makar is the current betting favorite, while Quinn Hughes is not so far back. Zach Werenski and Miro Heiskanen are behind with slightly higher odds.
Yes. Cale Makar just won the Norris Trophy for the second time in his career. Likewise, numerous others have won the Norris Trophy multiple times, including Bobby Orr (eight times), Doug Harvey (seven times), Niklas Lidström (six times), Ray Bourque (five times), and Erik Karlsson (three times).
Author
Brandon Justice has nearly a decade of experience covering sports and betting, primarily working in college football, college basketball, NFL and MLB. His goal is providing detailed analysis on the trends & data of sports betting with a wealth of experience, including writing for The Action Network & Rivals.com.
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