Cale Makar Deserves to Win His Second Norris Trophy – The Hockey Writers –

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was recently announced as a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded every season “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.” This has been arguably an even more impressive season for Makar than the season he won his first Norris. This is his fourth-straight season of being a finalist for the trophy, which he won last during the 2021-22 season, finishing second in the 2020-21 season and third last season.

For Makar, this has been just another great regular season of many more to come. He is a generational defenseman who breaks not only franchise records but also NHL records each season he plays. However, it will be challenging to add another trophy to his resume. This season has been a tight race for the Norris — the Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Nashville Predators’ Roman Josi put up incredible seasons as well — but here is my case on why Makar should be coming out of this race with his second Norris.

Career Season for Makar

Makar was a top defenseman in the 2023-24 NHL season, with 1.17 points per game (21 goals and 69 assists in 77 games). This is the third-highest average by a defenseman in the last 30 seasons (minimum: 50 games). His performance helped the Avalanche secure their seventh consecutive playoff berth. He set single-season franchise records for assists and points by a defenseman and ranked second among all defensemen in goals (21), assists (69) and points (90) for the season. He was also among the league leaders in power-play points (1st; 39), shorthanded points (tied for 1st; four), power-play assists (2nd; 32), shots on goal (3rd; 231), takeaways (3rd; 70), power-play goals (tied for 3rd; seven), and average time on ice (9th; 24:46).

Makar scored his 300th point in his 280th game (on Jan. 20 against the Philadelphia Flyers), making him the second-fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach this milestone. He fell just one game short of Bobby Orr‘s record (279 games). 

Makar is a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the fourth time in his first five NHL seasons. He won the award in 2021-22, finished second in 2020-21, and placed third in 2022-23. Only three other players have been voted as a finalist at least four times within their first five seasons: Orr (five times), Brad Park (four times), and Denis Potvin (four times). Of these players, only…