NHL Norris Trophy Odds 2024-25: Who Is Favored To Win NHL MVP?

The calendar has flipped to 2025, which means it is time for the Norris Trophy winner to reveal himself.

There is a three-player race for the award given annually to the NHL’s best defenseman at the season’s halfway points. At the top of the odds are a pair of former winners and an upstart from a small-market team.

But without a clear, runaway winner, there is still time to get a decent payout if you can predict who will end up winning the Norris Trophy at the NHL Awards in late June.

Here is a look at where the Norris Trophy odds stand as of Jan. 15.

NHL Norris Trophy Odds

2024-25 Norris Trophy Favorite

Cale Makar, Avalanche (+100)

Makar is going to always be among the Norris Trophy favorites as long as he remains healthy. The Avalanche’s stalwart blueliner, who won the award in 2022, has been a Norris Trophy finalist in each of the past four seasons even though he has missed at least five games in every season he has played.

But Makar has not yet lost a game to injury this season and shares the NHL lead for points among defensemen (50) as of Jan. 15, while sitting third on the Avs behind NHL-leader Nathan MacKinnon and fellow point-producing stalwart Mikko Rantanen. 

Makar’s reputation precedes him, and the Avs are 21-9-1 in their past 31 games. That means if they finish near the top of the standings and Makar reaches 90 points for the second straight year, he is very likely to win the award.

2025 Norris Trophy Contenders

Quinn Hughes, Canucks (+115)

Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner, yet there is reason to pause before betting on him to reclaim his throne in 2025. For starters, Makar is outpacing him point-wise, which was not the case a season ago when Hughes put up a career-high 92 points (17 goals, 75 assists). 

Hughes is having another brilliant year and is a model of consistency in the Vancouver room that has been overrun by turmoil. He leads the Canucks with 47 points and a plus-14 rating, while ranking seventh in the NHL in Corsi For (311) – meaning his number of shot attempts – and is No. 1 in points per game among defensemen (1.21).

This is an individual award, and a Norris winner does not necessarily need to come from a playoff team. But the fact the Canucks are middling near the playoff fringe, and the fact Hughes is not dominating also threatens his candidacy.

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets (+280)

Those of us who follow the NHL closely have known Werenski’s potential for years, since he was drafted eighth overall in 2015. But playing for the two-steps-forward-one-step-back Blue Jackets has wrecked havoc on Werenski’s career, since he has only skated in 29 playoff games in his previous eight seasons.

But Werenski is having a breakout season under first-year coach Dean Evason by already posting his second-career 50-points season through just 43 games. He leads all NHL defensemen in goals (15), shares the NHL lead for points among defensemen with Makar (50) while also leading the upstart Blue Jackets in points.

Werenski leads all defensemen in many statistical categories, including shots (171) and high-danger chances (30). Plus, he has been an integral part of Columbus’ resurgence, since he has 42 points in CBJ’s past 30 games (1.4 per game) and his team has gone 16-9-4 and moved into a playoff spot.

Who Will Win the 2025 Norris Trophy?

It is never a bad bet to wager on Makar, especially since you can pencil him in as a finalist before the season even starts. Hughes will also undoubtedly be in the mix, even though he has only been a finalist for the award once in his previous six seasons and there has not been a repeat Norris winner since Nicklas Lidstrom in 2007-08.

But our pick is Werenski, who is in line to become the 10th different Norris winner in the past 10 seasons. The Blue Jackets are showing no signs of going away, and Werenski is poised to get the credit for their ascendence since he has been their best player – and unlike the Makar’s Avalanche there is not an embarrassment of talent surrounding Werenski.

Plus, Werenski’s fancy stats are better than both Hughes’ and Makar’s, which will endear him with both traditional voters and those that consider all data before submitting their ballots.

So for the moment, my top-three, in order, would be: 

1. Zach Werenski
2. Cale Makar
3. Quinn Hughes