Trophy Tracker: Avalanche defenseman Makar early-season choice for Norris

To mark the beginning of the 2026-27 regular season, NHL.com is running its first installment of the Trophy Tracker series. Today, we look at the race for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the top defenseman in the NHL as selected in a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Cale Makar is set to be the highest paid player in the NHL, and deservedly so.

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract on Aug. 28 which begins next season and has an average annual value of $20.4 million.

He's a Stanley Cup champion, has won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Calder Trophy as the top rookie, and is a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy, awarded to the best defenseman, and a six-time finalist.

He was the Norris runner-up last season but a panel of 15 NHL.com staff members chose Makar to win it this season. He received 70 voting points and 11-first place votes. Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild finished second with 51 points and two first-place votes, and last season's winner, Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, finished third with 36 points. Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres received the other three first-place votes.

"To see what he does or what he can do on the ice, it's so special, and to have him locked in here for the next nine years, it's just a great thing for the entire city of Denver, state of Colorado," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said.

Makar, 27, was third among defenseman in points with 79 (20 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games last season, the third straight season and fourth time in five he's scored at least 20 goals. He averaged 24:51 of ice time per game and was plus-32, finishing third in power-play points among defenseman with 29.

How valuable is Makar to the Avalanche?  Colorado was steamrolling its way through the playoffs last season before Makar missed the first two games of the Western Conference Final (both losses) against the Vegas Golden Knights. He returned for the final two games of the series but not at full strength and Colorado was swept.

"Cale plays 30 minutes a night and everybody is slotted behind him," Sakic said. "To miss him on the ice for those two games, you're in the conference final against a really good team, and you need your stars to be on the ice for you and you need them to play well. That definitely hurt. It was a big reason why we were 0-2 and a big reason why we lost the series."
A healthy Makar is bad news for the rest of the League. He chips in with offense and defense, plays on both special teams and is as dependable as they come. He's averaged more than a point per game (1.08) in his career with 510 in 472 games. That trails only Bobby Orr (1.39) and Paul Coffey (1.09) among defenseman to play at least 200 NHL games.

"We'll never find him ever again," Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon said. "I think he's the best D-man of all time and he's going to play his whole career here which is awesome."

Of course, Makar refused to take individual credit any of his accolades, instead mentioning his teammates. 

"Obviously a lot of that is individual awards, and a lot of guys say this and I keep reiterating it, but the way our team plays and the success we have those team awards come with all that," Makar said after signing his contract.
And a scary thought for the rest of the League? Makar said his new contract could unleash even more from him.

"Internally on myself, I feel like I'm a guy that just puts a lot of pressure on myself to do well year in, year out," he said. "No doubt outside pressure this could add things, but at the same time, it's kind of all in my head. … I think (the contract) is going to make me even hopefully push myself even a little bit more."

Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1-basis): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, 70 (11 first-place votes); Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild, 51 (two first-place votes); Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets, 36; Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres, 29 (three first-place votes); Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens, 24; Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders, 14; Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers, 7; Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars, 3; Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators, 3; Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings, 2; Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning, 1