We’re already into February, which suggests the Norris Trophy race is de facto going to warmth up.
A trio of gamers has availed itself because the sure-fire finalists for the award given yearly the NHL’s greatest defenseman. Though there’s a clear pecking order for which participant will win the award, based mostly on the chances, any of the three can stand up and take the award with about 30 video games left on every participant’s schedule.
The Norris race goes to be one we preserve shut tabs on for the remainder of the season. So let’s take a look at the place the Norris Trophy odds stand because the season will get set to interrupt for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
NHL Norris Trophy Odds
2024-25 Norris Trophy Favourite
Quinn Hughes, Canucks (-120)
Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner and has been on a burner over the previous month whereas retaining the Canucks within the hunt for a Western Convention playoff spot. Hughes is the clear chief in Vancouver in factors and has at the least one level in eight straight video games and has 9 multi-point video games in its previous 17 as of Feb. 6.
Hughes, who put up 92 factors a season in the past, is on tempo for 97 this season and is 25 factors forward of second-place Brock Boeser on the Canucks as of Feb. 6. In a 12 months pockmarked by inconsistency within the Pacific Northwest, Hughes has been the mannequin by additionally main the Canucks in common time on ice (25:18) and along with his plus-15 ranking.
At this level, Hughes is beginning to make an intriguing Hart Trophy candidate. But, his crew success might in the end be Hughes’ undoing. Hockey media appears unlikely to decide on Hughes for both award if the Canucks miss the playoffs, and they’re exterior the sphere with 29 video games left.
At these odds, it’s price taking an opportunity on simply in case Hughes runs away with the award. However the Canucks additionally could also be inclined to commerce Brock Boeser – after simply dealing J.T. Miller to the Rangers – which might threaten their capacity to achieve the postseason.
2025 Norris Trophy Contenders
Cale Makar, Avalanche (+200)
Makar goes to at all times be among the many Norris Trophy favorites so long as he stays wholesome. The Avalanche’s stalwart blueliner, who received the award in 2022, has been a Norris Trophy finalist in every of the previous 4 seasons regardless that he has missed at the least 5 video games in each season he has performed.
However Makar has not but misplaced a recreation to harm this season and is second amongst defensemen in factors (58) trailing solely Hughes. Like Hughes’ Canucks, Makar’s Avs additionally watched one among their superstar-caliber forwards get traded – Mikko Rantanen was dealt to Carolina final month – which solely enforces Makar’s significance the remainder of the season.
If the Canucks miss the playoffs, or Makar goes on a Makar-style tear in March, he can steal the award from Hughes. However Makar has gone from the favourite to No. 2, and his odds have lengthened from Even to +200 previously three weeks, for the reason that Avs have struggled to win with any consistency.
Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets (+300)
These of us who comply with the NHL carefully have identified Werenski’s potential for years, since he was drafted eighth total in 2015. However taking part in for the two-steps-forward-one-step-back Blue Jackets has wreaked havoc on Werenski’s profession, since he has solely skated in 29 playoff video games in his earlier eight seasons.
However Werenski is having a breakout season underneath first-year coach Dean Evason by equaling his profession excessive in factors (57) in simply 53 video games and sitting third within the league in factors amongst defensemen behind solely the 2 gamers listed above.
Like Hughes, Werenski leads his crew in factors and leads all NHL skaters in common time on ice per recreation (26:48). Plus, he has been on a tear by posting 47 factors in CBJ’s previous 38 video games, serving to the Blue Jackets get again into the playoff race within the East as of early February.
Werenski’s greatest Norris end was eighth, within the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, and he’s a lock to be a finalist this 12 months. The one query is that if he can generate sufficient buzz to surpass two of the most effective and most well-known defensemen to win the Norris this season.
Who Will Win the 2025 Norris Trophy?
It’s by no means a foul guess to wager on Makar, particularly since you may pencil him in as a finalist earlier than the season even begins. Hughes may also undoubtedly be within the combine, regardless that he has solely been a finalist for the award as soon as in his earlier six seasons and there has not been a repeat Norris winner since Nicklas Lidstrom in 2007-08.
Our choose proper now could be Hughes, narrowly forward of Werenski, because of his unimaginable three-week span. With Miller traded, and Vancouver buying defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Penguins, Hughes’ crew ought to get again on the beam and discover a approach to declare one of many last two playoff spots – both the second wild card or No. 3 seed within the Pacific.
Werenski can nonetheless steal the award, and Makar is at all times able to happening a tear. However the award is Hughes’ to lose proper now. Here’s what our poll could be if we have been voting at present:
- Quinn Hughes
- Zach Werenski
- Cale Makar
