As part of revealing the finalists for major league awards, the NHL announced the Norris Trophy finalists today. According to a league announcement, Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets are the three finalists to be named the “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.”
Although he’s earned multiple votes over the last three years, this is the first time that Dahlin, 26, has been named a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Throughout the first four years of his career, there were several questions regarding Dahlin, particularly if he was the top defenseman that the Sabres believed he would be when they drafted him.
Over the last four years, he has proven he is everything Buffalo hoped he would be, if not more. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, Dahlin has scored 71 goals and 274 points in 379 games, topping out with a 19-goal, 74-point performance this season. Additionally, he’s averaged nearly 25 minutes a night over that stretch, showing he can play in every situation comfortably. He’s physical, he blocks shots, he puts a ton of them on net, and he has captained the Sabres to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
Unlike Dahlin, Makar’s name has become synonymous with the Norris Trophy throughout his career. Throughout his career, Makar has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy six times, winning the award twice. Even when he wasn’t a finalist during his rookie campaign, he still finished top-10 in voting.
Still, it’s fair to argue that Makar took a step back offensively this season. After posting back-to-back 90-point campaigns in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Makar dropped back to 20 goals and 79 points this season. Regardless, he sustained more than a point per game on average, blocked over 100 shots, finished with a +32 rating, and was the top defenseman on the top team in the league.
Meanwhile, Werenski finished as a Norris Trophy finalist for the second year in a row, at the very least. The Gross Pointe, MI native finished 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games, averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per night. Although he doesn’t block as many shots as Dahlin or Makar, and didn’t have a double-digit rating, Weresnki played in every situation and led the Blue Jackets in scoring by a 14-point margin, which is extremely uncommon for a defenseman.
Unfortunately, given that each of the finalists’ all-around game, it’s a toss-up who will ultimately come away with the award this season.
Although it’s difficult to argue either Dahlin, Makar, or Werenski out of being a finalist, there are a few other defensemen who easily could have found their way into the top three. Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, who finished as the highest-scoring defenseman this season with 21 goals and 95 points in 82 games, has a case, as does Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, who finished with 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games, with a +36 rating.
Quinn Hughes, Jacob Chychryn, Raddysh all top 10 too.
Werenski has the best numbers. Makar has already won Norris and regressed. Dahlin’s numbers are the weakest of the 3 and are really not in the Norris territory.
What are the statistical requirements?
There is a gap wider than Michael Strahan’s smile when it comes to best defenseman in the NHL when comparing Rasmus Dahlin to Cale Makar.
The inaugural NHL turnover machine award was also handed out, Going to Evan Bouchard.
It’s wild that the footnote of this blurb names the one-dimensional Evan Bouchard.
Bouchard would have 150 points if they counted assists to the other teams
No Quinn Hughes? Suprised by that. Werenski is my choice.
Seider snubbed!
It is no longer a “best defenseman” award, but a “best offensive defenseman” award.
Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers led all defensemen in assists and points this season. If the Norris is an offensive defenseman award (as precedent and history dictates), why was he left off this list?
Quite possibly because you are wrong in your synopsis. Oh, and isn’t responding to your own posts the cyber equivalent of talking to yourself in the corner?
Zach Werenski should win. I’m a bit baffled how Ramus Dahlin is nominated over Quinn Hughes smh.
Eh, there are easily ten defensemen left off the list who’d have been credible finalists: Hughes, Bouchard, Hutson, McAvoy, Seider, Raddysh, Heiskanen, Chychrun, Schaefer … heck, John Marino had himself a very nice year. The three who were picked are good choices.
Bouchard’s offensive totals are impressive but he is essentially a glorified Forward