As the Stanley Cup Playoffs progress, the National Hockey League has commenced the process of unveiling the finalists for its significant annual awards for the 2024-25 season. The first category for which the contenders were announced is the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which recognizes the league`s top defenseman.
The three players named as finalists for this esteemed award are Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.
Quinn Hughes, who is the current recipient of the Norris Trophy, maintained his exceptional performance by leading the Canucks with 76 points and 60 assists during the regular season. His point total significantly outpaced the next highest scorer on his team by a margin of 26 points. In the 2022-23 season, only Erik Karlsson achieved a larger points margin over his team`s second-highest scorer among defensemen leading their respective clubs (Karlsson led San Jose by 34 points). This also marks the fourth consecutive season in which Hughes has reached the 60-point plateau, a feat accomplished by only three other defensemen in NHL history.
Meanwhile, Cale Makar had a remarkable season, finishing first among all NHL defensemen in points (92), goals (30), and assists (62). Makar is a former winner of the Norris Trophy, having earned the award for his play during the 2021-22 season.
Zach Werenski posted career-best numbers across the board, registering 82 points, 23 goals, and 59 assists. He also became the first defenseman in franchise history to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets in scoring. Should Werenski win, he would become the first player from the Blue Jackets organization to ever receive the Norris Trophy.
The finalists for the remaining NHL Awards are scheduled to be announced daily through the middle of May. The ceremony for the 2025 NHL Awards is set to take place in June 2025, although the exact date has not yet been confirmed.
Vezina Trophy Finalists
The Vezina Trophy is awarded “to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position.”
- Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)
- Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings)
- Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Norris Trophy Finalists
The Norris Trophy is given to “the defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.”
- Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)
- Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)
- Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
