As the 2024-25 NHL season reaches its midpoint, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche remains the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s top defenseman. Selected as the preseason favorite by NHL.com, Makar has lived up to the hype, maintaining his dominant performance into the new year.
Makar leads all defensemen with 49 points, including 13 goals and 36 assists. He also tops the league in power-play points with 20 and is tied for first in short-handed goals with one. Through 44 games, he has averaged 25:40 in ice time, consistently contributing on both ends of the rink. His remarkable performance includes being named NHL’s First Star of the Month for October, a stretch in which he accumulated 19 points (4 goals, 15 assists) over 11 games. This achievement placed him among elite company, as only Bobby Orr had previously posted a season-opening point streak of at least 11 games.
In December, Makar continued to shine with 14 points (3 goals, 11 assists) in 13 games, highlighted by his second two-goal game of the season during a thrilling 6-5 comeback victory against the Buffalo Sabres on January 2. His success can be attributed not only to his offensive firepower but also his leadership and playmaking ability. As his defensive partner, Devon Toews, noted, Makar’s ability to create time and space for both himself and his teammates has been a major factor in the Avalanche’s success.
Despite his offensive prowess, Makar’s play without the puck has been even more impressive this season. He ranks third in the NHL for ice time per game, including averaging 2:09 of short-handed ice time. This added focus on defense, alongside his ongoing commitment to improving his game, has been a key component of his performance. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has noted that Makar has fully bought into the defensive side of the game, ensuring that his high ice time doesn’t lead to detrimental opportunities for the opposition.
Makar’s current campaign is a culmination of years of development and growth. After finishing as a finalist for the Norris Trophy in each of the past four seasons, he finally won the prestigious award in 2021-22. This season, he continues to impress with his consistency, having recorded at least one point in 30 of Colorado’s 43 games, including 16 multi-point games. His all-around contributions have him poised to capture his second Norris Trophy.
On track to reach a major milestone, Makar is just one goal away from 100 career goals, a feat that would make him the sixth-fastest defenseman to do so in NHL history, joining Hall of Famers like George Boucher, Bobby Orr, and Paul Coffey. However, Makar remains focused on the present, stating that he doesn’t pay much attention to statistics and prefers to focus on enjoying the day-to-day process of his game.
At the halfway point of the season, Makar’s play has elevated the Avalanche, who have bounced back after a rough 0-4 start to win 12 of their last 17 games, climbing the standings in the Central Division. Makar himself believes his game has improved substantially, particularly on the defensive side, and he feels more confident than he has in recent seasons.
As the Norris Trophy race heats up, Makar’s strong all-around performance has him in the driver’s seat, but Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes, the defending winner, remains a strong contender. Hughes finished second in the voting with 58 points, followed by Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets with 47 points.
Here are the voting results for the Norris Trophy:
- Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche – 76 points (13 first-place votes)
- Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks – 58 points (3 first-place votes)
- Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets – 47 points
- Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets – 32 points
- Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning – 15 points
- Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights – 3 points
- Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres – 3 points
- John Carlson, Washington Capitals – 2 points
- Jakob Chychrun, Ottawa Senators – 1 point
- Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild – 1 point
- Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers – 1 point
- Alex Pietrangelo, Vegas Golden Knights – 1 point
Makar’s impressive performance thus far, coupled with his dedication to improving both offensively and defensively, makes him the clear favorite to capture the Norris Trophy once again as the league’s top defenseman.
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