NHL Norris Trophy Odds 2025-26: Who Is NHL’s Best Defensemen?

With the NHL’s regular season just about wrapped up, it’s time to take one last look at the race for the Norris Trophy. 

Each year, the Norris Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman, according to the votes of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PWHA). 

The odds were predicting a repeat by last year’s winner, Colorado blue-liner Cale Makar. But as the season is drawing to a close, those odds have shifted heavily, and there are a number of defenders who have overtaken Makar.  

Here’s a look at the odds for this year’s Norris Trophy as of April 15. 

Who’s Favored to Win the 2025-26 Norris Trophy?

Zach Werenski, Blue Jackets (-300)

Columbus defenseman Zach Werenski is the current favorite to win the 2025-26 Norris Trophy.

Despite the Blue Jackets failing to make the playoffs, Werenski had a profile-raising campaign in his ninth season in the NHL. 

Through 75 games played, the 28-year-old has 22 goals, 59 assists, and has earned a plus/minus rating of +7. 

That point total, 81, has him in second place behind Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard for offense by a defenseman. Bouchard has 92, but has played in six more games than the Columbus defenseman. 

The 28-year-old defenseman is also second in time-on-ice per game. Right now, he has 26:37, and the leader, Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes, has 27:44. 

Werenski has never won the Norris Trophy but has been a top-10 finisher twice, including last season, when he finished second. 

His stock rose earlier this year when he was a major part of Team USA’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Werenski had a goal and five assists in that tournament and was tied with teammate Jack Hughes for the second-best plus/minus rating.