Hughes, Makar, Werenski named Norris Trophy finalists
Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, and Zach Werenski are the three finalists for the Norris Trophy, the league announced Tuesday.
The award is given to the defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position. It's voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.
Here's how the three blue-liners stack up statistically:
| Player | GP | G | A | ATOI | xGF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughes (VAN) | 68 | 16 | 60 | 25:44 | 53.17 |
| Makar (COL) | 80 | 30 | 62 | 25:43 | 55.61 |
| Werenski (CBJ) | 81 | 23 | 59 | 26:45 | 53.31 |
Injuries sidelined Hughes for 14 games, but he still finished tied for second among all defensemen in assists and third in points. He was a one-man show for the Canucks this season, piling up 26 more points than any other skater on the roster. The 25-year-old is looking for his second straight Norris.
Makar enters as the favorite to win the award after pacing all blue-liners in goals, assists, and points. He's the ninth defenseman ever to score 30 goals in a season and the second in the last 30 years. The Avalanche star won the award in 2022 and has now been a finalist in five consecutive seasons in his six-year NHL career.
Werenski is a finalist for the first time in his nine-year career. His previous best finish was eighth in 2020. He nearly dragged an underdog Blue Jackets team to the playoffs, as they finished two points back of the Canadiens for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Werenski led Columbus with 82 points and ranked first among all NHL skaters in average time on ice.
Makar won unanimously in theScore's hypothetical ballot, followed by Werenski and Hughes.