Defensemen Makar, Dahlin, Werenski finalists for Norris Trophy

Colorado snow the star Kale Makar Will be seeking his second straight Norris Trophy win, having been named a finalist for the award for the sixth consecutive season.

Capricorn joins Rasmus Dahlin of Buffalo Sabres And Jack Werensky of Columbus Blue Jackets As a Norris finalist, the award is given each year to the defenseman who displays the “greatest all-around ability at the position”. It was voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Makar, 27, is seeking the third Norris win of his seven-season career.

He had 79 points in 75 games for the Avalanche this season, a tick short of his lofty standards — Makar’s 1.05 points per game was the fifth-highest average of his career. Makar’s plus-32 was the second-best rating of his career in the regular season. Makar played in all situations for Colorado, shorthanded in 4:11 of power play time and skating 1:57 per game. The Avalanche shot 64% when Makar was on the ice at 5-on-5.

Dahlin, 26, was a driving force in the Sabers’ effort to end the longest playoff drought in NHL history, last made the cut in 2011. The Buffalo captain had a career-high 74 points, the third-highest total by a Sabers defenseman in franchise history. His 52 even-strength points set a franchise record for defensemen. Dahlin averaged 24:11 skating per game, contributed 22 points on the power play and brought a physical edge to his own zone.

This is his first time as a Norris finalist, having finished sixth in the voting last season. Dahlin was Also nominated for the Masterton Trophy For “perseverance, dedication to sports and hockey.”

Werenski, 28, led the Blue Jackets with 81 points, good for second in the NHL in points by a defenseman, along with a team-high 59 assists. He scored 18 of his 22 goals at even strength, which was the best in the NHL. He was also second in the league in average ice time (26:37 per game), power play (3:02) and short-handed play (1:13) for the Jackets.

Last season Norris finished second to Werensky Makar in the voting, the first time he was a finalist for the award. In the final week of this year’s regular season, He led the way over Makar for Norris on ESPN’s NHL Awards Watchwhich polls the ballots of actual Norris Trophy voters.

Among the defensemen who did not win the Norris Trophy Ivan Bouchard of Edmonton Oilerswho led all NHL defensemen with 95 points in 82 games; And Quinn Hugheswho was fourth Minnesota Wild Achieved 53 points in 48 matches Vancouver Canucks. Hughes won the Norris in 2023-24 and was a finalist again last season.