Calgarian Cale Makar has been named the winner of the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the National Hockey League’s best defenseman.
The 26-year-old scored 30 goals and added 62 assists during the 2024-25 NHL regular season, becoming just the ninth d-man in league history to record at least 30 goals in a season.
Makar finished third in the NHL in average ice time (25:43) and also registered 12 power-play goals.
This is the second Norris Trophy the star with the Colorado Avalanche has won. Makar first claimed the honour in 2021-22. He finished second in voting for the award in 2020-21 and he also placed third on two other occasions.
Makar was surprised with the award while he was at home in Calgary. Halfway through a golf outing, Makar went to his parents’ house, where the trophy was waiting along with family and friends.
“Any time you get recognized for something like this, it’s very cool,” Makar said in an article on NHL.com.
“It’s very special to be able to (win) this a second time. To have the group of guys that we did — it seems cliche to say, but it’s truly a team award. We had a fun year and it’ll be more fun hopefully continuing, but this one’s for them.”
Makar beat out Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks after receiving 176 first-place votes on 191 ballots.
Josh Morrissey, who was born and raised in Calgary, finished fourth in the voting. The defenseman with the Winnipeg Jets received five second-place votes and 18 third-place nods.
Meanwhile, Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf – the Calgary Booster Club’s Male Athlete of the Year for 2024 – finished second in the Calder Trophy voting, losing out to defenseman Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens.
Makar was named the winner of the Scott-Mamini Memorial Award – given annually by the Calgary Booster Club to the Male Athlete of the Year – for his performance during the 2022 calendar year.
That year, in addition to taking home a Norris Trophy, Makar helped the Avs win a Stanley Cup and he was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most-valuable player in the NHL playoffs.
Related Link: https://www.nhl.com/news/cale-makar-wins-norris-trophy-for-2024-25-season.