NHL Norris Trophy Odds 2024-25: Who Is NHL’s Best Defensemen?

We are already into February, which means the Norris Trophy race is really going to heat up.

A trio of players has availed itself as the sure-fire finalists for the award given annually the NHL’s best defenseman. Although there is a clear pecking order for which player will win the award, based on the odds, any of the three can rise up and take the award with about 30 games left on each player’s schedule.

The Norris race is going to be one we keep close tabs on for the rest of the season. So let’s look at where the Norris Trophy odds stand as the season gets set to break for the Four Nations Face-Off.

NHL Norris Trophy Odds

2024-25 Norris Trophy Favorite

Quinn Hughes, Canucks (-120)

Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner and has been on a burner over the past month while keeping the Canucks in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot. Hughes is the clear leader in Vancouver in points and has at least one point in eight straight games and has nine multi-point games in its past 17 as of Feb. 6.

Hughes, who put up 92 points a season ago, is on pace for 97 this season and is 25 points ahead of second-place Brock Boeser on the Canucks as of Feb. 6. In a year pockmarked by inconsistency in the Pacific Northwest, Hughes has been the model by also leading the Canucks in average time on ice (25:18) and with his plus-15 rating.

At this point, Hughes is starting to make an intriguing Hart Trophy candidate. Yet, his team success may ultimately be Hughes’ undoing. Hockey media seems unlikely to choose Hughes for either award if the Canucks miss the playoffs, and they are outside the field with 29 games left.

At these odds, it is worth taking a chance on just in case Hughes runs away with the award. But the Canucks also may be inclined to trade Brock Boeser – after just dealing J.T. Miller to the Rangers – which would threaten their ability to reach the postseason.

2025 Norris Trophy Contenders

Cale Makar, Avalanche (+200)

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 is second among defensemen in points (58) trailing only Hughes. Like Hughes’ Canucks, Makar’s Avs also watched one of their superstar-caliber forwards get traded – Mikko Rantanen was dealt to Carolina last month – which only enforces Makar’s importance the rest of the season.

If the Canucks miss the playoffs, or Makar goes on a Makar-style tear in March, he can steal the award from Hughes. But Makar has gone from the favorite to No. 2, and his odds have lengthened from Even to +200 in the past three weeks, since the Avs have struggled to win with any consistency.

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets (+300)

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 wreaked 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 equaling his career high in points (57) in just 53 games and sitting third in the league in points among defensemen behind only the two players listed above. 

Like Hughes, Werenski leads his team in points and leads all NHL skaters in average time on ice per game (26:48). Plus, he has been on a tear by posting 47 points in CBJ’s past 38 games, helping the Blue Jackets get back into the playoff race in the East as of early February.

Werenski’s best Norris finish was eighth, in the COVID-shortened 2019-20 season, and he is a lock to be a finalist this year. The only question is if he can generate enough buzz to surpass two of the best and most well-known defensemen to win the Norris this season.

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.

Our pick right now is Hughes, narrowly ahead of Werenski, due to his incredible three-week span. With Miller traded, and Vancouver acquiring defenseman Marcus Pettersson from the Penguins, Hughes’ team should get back on the beam and find a way to claim one of the final two playoff spots – either the second wild card or No. 3 seed in the Pacific. 

Werenski can still steal the award, and Makar is always capable of going on a tear. But the award is Hughes’ to lose right now. Here is what our ballot would be if we were voting today:

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