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

With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture is beginning to lock in, with teams making their last-ditch efforts at a Wild Card appearance or Division title. 

The same can be said for the NHL’s end-of-season awards, where the favorites and contenders are beginning to separate themselves from each other for every trophy firmly. 

The race for the James Norris Trophy, given each year to the league’s top defenseman, is one of the least close races for the NHL’s awards. 

Here’s a look at the odds for the Norris as of April 6. 

2024-25 Norris Trophy Favorite

Cale Makar, Avalanche (-2500)

Nothing is a certainty in any sport, especially in hockey. But it’s safe to say with something resembling certainty that the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar will go home with his second Norris Trophy this summer. 

Since entering the league in 2020 and winning the Calder Memorial Trophy, Makar has been one of the league’s premier defensemen. He first won the Norris in 2022, the same year he won the Stanley Cup with Colorado. 

Makar’s numbers this year are reminiscent of that 2022 season, which earned him his first Norris Trophy.

He’s continued to be a lockdown defender for Colorado while also putting up great offensive numbers. He’s ranked first in both defensive point shares and overall point shares with 6.5 and 16.1, respectively. 

With Colorado also having a great season, currently the fourth-overall seed in the Western Conference, it makes sense for Makar to be rewarded with Norris Trophy honors. 

2024-25 Norris Trophy Contenders

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets (+900)

It’s been an amazing season for Zach Werenski in Columbus, where he’s taken over responsibilities as a team leader for an embattled Blue Jackets roster this season. 

He’s been stellar offensively for the team, ranking up achievements in the franchise’s record books for assists this year. Just this week, he passed the late franchise icon Johnny Gaudreau for the fourth-most assists in team history and is closing in on the number-one spot as the regular season comes to a close. 

In another year, Werenski would also be a contender for the Hart Trophy. But it’s hard for him to compete this year with the Hellebuyck, MacKinnon, and Draisaitl group. 

If Columbus’ playoff situation changes, Werenski could be rewarded with more Norris Trophy votes to unseat Makar. 

Quinn Hughes, Canucks (+8000)

It’s been a strangely down year for the Vancouver Canucks, who, as of the writing of this article, are four points out of the final Western Conference Wild Card spot. 

Quinn Hughes has also had a down year. He’s been dealing with injury troubles since the Four Nations tournament, where he was unable to join the Team USA roster. Rumblings are starting about Hughes’ long-term status in Vancouver. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in two years. 

Still, because of Hughes’ pedigree, he’ll probably find himself in the mix for the Norris trophy every year until the 25-year-old falls out of his prime.