To mark the beginning of the 2022-23 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.
After winning the Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup last season, what can Cale Makar do for an encore?
For starters, the Colorado Avalanche defenseman could become the first player to win the Norris Trophy in back-to-back seasons since Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings won three straight from 2006-08.
Makar led NHL defensemen with 28 goals last season, and his 86 points were second to Roman Jose of the Nashville Predators (96). The 23-year-old was second among defensemen with a plus-48 rating, behind his teammate Devon Toews (plus-52). He was second in even-strength points (52), third in power-play points (34), tied for first in game-winning goals (six) and was second in shots on goal (240).
All of those reasons and more are why Makar is the favorite to win the Norris again this season, according to a panel of 15 NHL.com staffers.
Makar received 70 voting points (11 first-place votes). Josi was second with 52 points (three first-place votes), followed by Hedman with 33 points (one first-place vote). This is how they finished in voting for the Norris last season.
“For me, I’m not focused on anything accolade-wise at all,” Makar said Sept. 21. “Everybody just keeps asking me how are you going to the top [it] next year and it’s not about that for me. I just want to be the same player, play my game and make sure that I can contribute on both ends of the ice for my team every single night. That’s kind of the way that I look at it. I’m not going into the season trying to top what anybody did last year. It’s just me on an individual aspect and we’ll take it day by day.”
Video: Cale Makar headlines Top 20 Defensemen Right Now list
Makar may be focused on the Avalanche repeating as Stanley Cup champions, but he’s likely to have another strong season and could challenge to score 30 goals, something that hasn’t been done by an NHL defenseman since Mike Green scored 34 with the Washington Capitals. 2008-09.
“I mean, obviously I’m biased, but I think the credit and the talk around him here, especially even in the playoffs, and I know it’s a regular-season award, but we’ve seen him play this way from Day One of the season,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said June 21, the day Makar won the Norris and five days before he won the Conn Smythe. “You watch the impact he has on the games we’ve played, and for me it’s an easy decision. … But I just think this guy is elite, and the job he does for us offensively, defensively, watching him play, how dynamic he is, I just think he’s the best defenseman in the game right now.”
Makar had 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 postseason games. The only defensemen with more in a single playoff are Paul Coffey of the Edmonton Oilers (37 points in 1984-85), Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers (34 points in 1993-94) and Al MacInnis of the Calgary Flames (31 points in 1988-89).
“I get to see him every day,” the Blackhawks defenseman Jack Johnson, a teammate with the Avalanche last season, said in June. “I get to see the special things he does night in and night out, the impact he has offensively and defensively and the way he skates, the way he handles the puck, his vision. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s only going to keep getting better, which is the amazing part, and I’m just as big a fan of him as a person as I am a hockey player.”
Makar is averaging more than 1.00 points per game in his three NHL seasons (180 points in 178 games) and he’s the first player to win the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey (2018-19, University of Massachusetts), Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year (2019-20), Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe. And he’s done it all in less than four years.
“He’s so special,” the Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon said after winning the Stanley Cup. “Just an amazing person. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody in the world. Such an amazing leader, person, and what can I say about him? He’s the best.”
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1-basis): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, 70 points (11 first-place votes); Roman Josi, Nashville Predators, 52 (3); Victor HedmanTampa Bay Lightning, 33 (1); Adam FoxNew York Rangers, 27; Quinn HughesVancouver Canucks, 15; Aaron EkbladFlorida Panthers, 12; Miro HeiskanenDallas Stars, 5; Moritz SeiderDetroit Red Wings, 5; Morgan RiellyToronto Maple Leafs, 3; K’Andre MillerNew York Rangers, 2; Charlie McAvoyBoston Bruins, 1
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