Story Summary
Cale Makar has emerged as the early choice in a 15-member panel vote for the Norris Trophy after collecting 70 points and 11 first-place votes. The Colorado Avalanche defenceman finished comfortably ahead of Minnesota Wild defenceman Quinn Hughes, who received 51 points and two first-place votes.
Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, last season’s Norris winner, was third on 36 points. Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin placed fourth with 29 points and collected the remaining three first-place votes.
The vote arrives at the beginning of the 2026-27 regular season, with Makar carrying an exceptional recent record into the campaign. The 27-year-old was third among NHL defencemen in scoring last season, recording 79 points through 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 games. He averaged 24:51 per game, was plus-32 and ranked third among defencemen with 29 power-play points.
Makar has already won the Norris Trophy twice and been named a finalist six times. He was the runner-up last season, and his latest support reflects both his production and his all-situations importance to Colorado.
Key Facts
- Cale Makar led the panel vote with 70 points and 11 first-place votes.
- Quinn Hughes finished second with 51 points and two first-place votes.
- Zach Werenski was third with 36 points after winning the Norris Trophy last season.
- Rasmus Dahlin received 29 points and the other three first-place votes.
- Makar had 79 points, including 20 goals and 59 assists, in 75 games last season.
- He averaged 24:51 of ice time per game, was plus-32 and had 29 power-play points.
- Makar has scored at least 20 goals in each of the past three seasons and in four of the past five.
- His career total stands at 510 points in 472 NHL games, a 1.08 points-per-game rate.
- Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract on Aug. 28, with a $20.4 million average annual value; it begins next season.
- Colorado general manager Joe Sakic said Makar’s absence for the first two games of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights was a major factor in Colorado losing the series.
IHM Discussion
An early-season trophy panel is not an award result, but the margin at the top is notable. Makar’s 19-point advantage over Hughes came with 11 of 15 first-place votes, giving him clear early recognition among a strong group of NHL defencemen.
The case begins with the breadth of Makar’s contribution. His 20 goals, 59 assists and 79 points place him among the game’s most dangerous offensive blue-liners, while his 24:51 average ice time shows the scale of his responsibility. The 29 power-play points underline his role in creating offence with the man advantage, and Sakic has also described him as the player around whom the rest of Colorado’s defence is slotted.
Makar’s historical standing adds context without deciding the present race. His 1.08 career points per game trails only Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey among defencemen with at least 200 NHL games. That production, alongside two previous Norris wins, means he enters this season with an unusually high standard already established.
There is also a direct team dimension to the discussion. Colorado lost the first two games of last season’s Western Conference Final against Vegas while Makar was unavailable, before he returned for the final two games not at full strength. Sakic explicitly linked that absence to the 0-2 start and to the series defeat. It illustrates why Makar’s influence is measured not simply by scoring totals, but by the minutes and situations Colorado asks him to cover.
Why It Matters
The Norris Trophy recognises the NHL’s top defenceman, as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and the early panel placed Makar at the front of a field that includes recent winner Werenski and fellow first-place recipients Hughes and Dahlin.
For Colorado, Makar’s value is central to the club’s structure. He plays on both special teams, carries major minutes and supplies elite scoring from the blue line. His new contract, which begins next season, also places a major long-term commitment alongside the expectation that he remains a foundational Avalanche player.
Makar himself has framed the deal as added personal motivation rather than something that changes his approach. He credited the team’s style and success when discussing his individual honours, while saying the contract could push him further internally.
Mini Q&A
Who led the early Norris Trophy panel vote?
Cale Makar led with 70 points and 11 first-place votes from the 15-member panel.
Who were the other leading vote-getters?
Quinn Hughes was second with 51 points, Zach Werenski third with 36, and Rasmus Dahlin fourth with 29. Hughes received two first-place votes and Dahlin three.
What did Makar produce last season?
Makar recorded 20 goals and 59 assists for 79 points in 75 games. He averaged 24:51 per game and had 29 power-play points.
When does Makar’s new contract begin?
His eight-year, $163.2 million contract, carrying a $20.4 million average annual value, begins next season.
Coach Mark Comment
A defenceman who can lead a power play, take heavy five-on-five minutes and contribute on the penalty kill gives a coaching staff unusual flexibility. Makar’s value is not merely that he produces points; it is that Colorado can build key situations around him. The challenge for any opponent is limiting his influence without opening space for the forwards playing around him.
What Comes Next
Makar’s eight-year contract is scheduled to begin next season. Before then, the Norris discussion will continue to be shaped by his production, ice time and contribution across Colorado’s special teams during the 2026-27 campaign.
IHM Final View
Makar is not being presented as the Norris winner; the season is only beginning and the award vote comes later. But the early panel result gives a clear snapshot of his standing. With 11 first-place votes, recent 79-point production and a record of elite output over 472 NHL games, he starts the campaign as the panel’s leading choice in a deep group of NHL defencemen.