Defensemen Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are among the top favorites for the 2025–26 Norris Trophy, according to early betting odds

The Norris trophy is awarded to the league's top defenceman based on several reasons with the most glaring in recent years being point production. It is the highest prestigious honor for a blueliner with Cale Makar winning it for the second in his career this past season. The Avalanche defenceman finished with 92 points through 80 games, tying the total Canucks' captain Quinn Hughes posted the year prior. 

The two have consistently led the competition in recent years, with many expecting one of them to capture the Norris Trophy in 2026, especially since one or the other has won it in three of the last four seasons. With that in mind, we look forward to the betting odds already posted for next season and who the darkhorse contenders could be besides Makar and Hughes. 

Norris Memorial Trophy 2026 Winner per FanDuel Sportsbook

• Cale Makar +135
• Quinn Hughes +190
• Zach Werenski +850
• Rasmus Dahlin +2100
• Adam Fox +3000
• Roman Josi +3000
• Evan Bouchard +3500
• Miro Heiskanen +4600
• Josh Morrissey +4600
• Victor Hedman +5500

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Cale Makar (+135) 

Makar is the obvious leading candidate after his stellar Norris winning season this past year. His performance earned him a finalist spot for the fifth time in his first six NHL seasons, making him a comfortable bet to be in the picture once again. 

Quinn Hughes (+190) 

Vancouver's captain was sidelined for 14 games this past season and limited his scoring to 76 points this season but still maintaining an identical 1.12 points per game average as his Norris winning season the year prior. If he can do it for two seasons in a row, who's to say he can't do for a third? 

Zach Werenski (+850) 

The Blue Jackets defenceman finally broke out in a big way this past season with 23 goals and 59 assists for a total of 82 points in 81 games, leading the team in scoring.The eighth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft showcased his full potential this past season, earning significant consideration for the Norris over Makar. 

Werenski caps off the 5-POINT NIGHT with the OT WINNER! 😮💥🚨 Zach Werenski puts an exclamation point on a wild back-and-forth, 7-6 game between the Bolts and the Jackets with the winner in OVERTIME!Breaking news, score...

Many believe that had the Blue Jackets made the playoffs, Werenski likely would have taken home the award. If he can carry his strong performance into next season, and with Columbus expected to make key additions due to having over $40 million in cap space, the second-most in the league, he will be a strong contender for at least another Norris finalist nod.

Rasmus Dahlin (+2100) 

The elite Swedish blueliner has shown significant growth over the past few seasons and has been vocal that he wants his team to be competetive next season. The Sabres captain posted 15 goals and 47 assists for 62 points in 68 games this past season and with the help of some new big ticket additions to the team, he may be able to get his scoring into the same conversation as Maker and Hughes. 

If the Sabres make impactful moves with their $23.2 million in cap space, Dahlin could have a similar season to Werenski and if the Sabres make a miracle run to the playoffs, he could earn himself a Norris trophy on the side.  

Adam Fox (+3000) 

Fox has put together some stellar seasons with the Rangers, including a Norris trophy win in 2021 but has saw a subtle decline last season. His normal 70-80 point production over the prior three seasons dipped to 61 points on a turbulent New York team. 

Fox still has the upside of a Norris-winning defenceman and the Rangers are notably hunting a big ticket free agent this summer. The 27-year-old New York native is the best value on the board as he's due for a bounce back season. 

Roman Josi (+3000) 

The 2020 Norris winner is starting to show his age at 35 with his production dipping to 38 points in 53 games.Nashville's longtime captain has proven to be an elite defenseman, excelling defensively while also producing offensively. 

Over the three seasons prior to last, he recorded 240 points in 229 games, which was the second most among all defensemen and just two points behind Makar. The upside for a Norris win is certainly there but after coming off an injury-riddled season plus is now entering the back half of his 30s, a Norris win would be unlikely. 

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Evan Bouchard (+3500) 

Bouchard was our top pick for the Norris entering this season and once again he's shown why he can be a reliable point producer on a team with two of the best players in the league with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. In the 2023–24 season, he recorded 82 points, nearly doubling his previous career high. 

His performance was instrumental in the Oilers achieving a top ten defence ranking last season and a top-14 ranking this past season. Bouchard's on-ice metrics were impressive, with the team allowing the 15th-fewest expected goals per 60 minutes (2.49) and the second-fewest shot attempts per 60 minutes (43.55) among qualified defensemen. 

Miro Heiskanen (+4600) 

Heiskanen is known more as a defensive defenceman that excels at what he does best but he has shown some scoring upside in the past with 73 points in 79 games during the 2022-23 season. In the following season, he contributed 54 points in 71 games and was a key factor in the Stars' deep playoff run. Heiskanen's defensive metrics are among the league's best but this usually doesn't help a defencemen win the Norris unless he lands near the top in defensive scoring. 

Josh Morrissey (+4600) 

The Jets blueliner has quietly become one of the NHL's most consistent and well-rounded players at his position. In the 2023–24 season, he achieved 69 points (10 goals, 59 assists), ranking eighth among defensemen, and posted a plus-34 rating, fifth-best in the league. His on-ice goals-for percentage was 63.8%, indicating his significant impact on the ice that could lead to a potential breakout at some point but time is running out on the 30-year-old.

Victor Hedman (+5500) 

The Bolts have the second-lowest cap space heading into the summer with the teams around them looking to continue growing and past the two-time Stanley Cup champs. Hedman, now at 34 years old, is getting towards the back half of his career and could start to be less effective as a large bodied blueliner that can't move as quick in a league dominated by speed.

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