Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar makes history, nominated for another Norris

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was nominated as a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the fifth straight year, joining an elite group of defenseman in NHL history

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Apr 29, 2025, 11:05 AM

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Watch: Why haven't the Avs gotten a deal done with Cale Makar? | Stokley and Evans with Mark Schlereth | 1 min

The greatness of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar continues to be recognized, as the league announced Tuesday that Makar was nominated as a finalist for the 2024-25 James Norris Memorial Trophy. The award goes to the best defenseman in the NHL every year, an award that Makar brought home in 2022.

Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar and Zach Werenski are the finalists for the Norris Trophy! 🏆 #NHLAwards

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position." pic.twitter.com/GQSaLKugOT

— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2025

This is Makar’s fifth nomination for the award in his first six seasons in the league, an accomplishment only seen by three other players in NHL history in Bobby Orr, Dennis Potvin and Brad Park. Orr won the award a record eight times in his career while Potvin won three times. Park never won the award due to Orr out-shadowing him.

Makar became the first defenseman to score 30 goals in the regular season since 2009 and the ninth overall. He led all defensemen in points (92), goals (30) and assists (62), making this second-straight year the Canadian tallied at least 90 points. He also joined another elite club this year, becoming just the sixth defensemen in the history of the NHL to hit the 90-point mark in multiple seasons.

In a recent vote from NHL media members before the Stanley Cup Playoffs started, Makar was the runaway favorite to win the award for the second time. If that vote were to hold, the trophy would be Makar’s for the taking after coming in third place in each of the previous two seasons.

No other player in Avalanche history has won the award.

While Makar had a phenomenal regular season, he hasn’t been himself through five playoff games as the Avalanche are in a 3-2 series deficit. He has just two assists and has been a -3 during his time on the ice through five games. With the season on the line, he needs to find the level he was at all throughout the regular season.