Norris Trophy Race Heats Up as the Season Winds Down | Top 5 Candidates Narrowed Down

The trade deadline has passed, and the final stretch has begun. With around 20 games to go for most teams league-wide, the Norris trophy race has become a large topic of conversation. Several elite defencemen have built strong cases this season, but five names stand above the rest as the race for the Norris Trophy begins to take shape. Here is how the order of the top 5 candidates should look as of today.

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Number 1:

Quinn Hughes - Minnesota Wild

Following his departure from the Vancouver Canucks, Quinn Hughes has been nothing short of incredible, amassing 39 points in 31 games since joining the Wild. The Wild were a good team, but his arrival made them great, as they now sit fourth in the NHL and are expected to be a top contender for the Stanley Cup.

Hughes is one of the best puck movers in the NHL. Despite his smaller frame, Hughes plays a remarkably well-rounded game, excelling in his own end. That trust in his own end is reflected in his usage, averaging an astonishing 28 minutes per night.

Even with his slower start to the year on the last-place Canucks, Quinn finds himself third in the NHL in points per game. The Milan Olympic Games were also very telling, where he led all defencemen in scoring en route to a Gold Medal victory.

Quinn Hughes is the best defenceman on the planet right now.

Number 2:

Zach Werenski - Columbus Blue Jackets

Werenski has been underrated for far too long. What he is doing in Columbus is nothing short of incredible, as he leads the team by over 10 points...as a defenceman. Werenski leads all defencemen in points per game and has been a key reason for the Jackets' late-season playoff push.

Werenski leads all defencemen in even-strength points and ranks second in the league in goals, behind only Jakob Chychrun. If he played in a bigger market, the buzz around him would be far greater.

Werenski remains one of the most underappreciated superstars in the NHL.

Number 3:

Evan Bouchard - Edmonton Oilers

Bouchard is one of the most polarizing defencemen in the NHL, being one of the league's most prolific offensive defencemen, yet he is frequently criticized for mistakes in his own end. However, for those of us who don't watch games through Twitter clips, it is clear to see that Bouchard is one of the best two-way defencemen in the league.

Unfortunately for Bouchard, he will never live down the reputation he has, given some of the bone-headed plays he has made. Nevertheless, he is one of the only players on this list who plays in all situations, on both special teams units.

Bouchard leads all defencemen in points, and it's time people start giving him the respect he deserves.

Number 4:

Lane Hutson - Montreal Canadiens

The "Lane Hutson can't defend" narrative has become increasingly difficult to push, as Hutson continues to improve his all-around game (see red line in the bottom right of the chart below). In just his sophomore NHL season, Hutson has cemented himself as one of the best defencemen in the entire league.

Being one of, if not the slipperiest player in the NHL, Hutson has taken his offence to new heights, placing fourth in the NHL in points. Listed at 5'9 162 lbs, it is astonishing that Hutson can do what he does at the NHL level. His immense skill, hockey IQ, and success on both ends of the ice, given his size, deserve a ton of praise.

The "but can he do it at the NHL level?" talk has been put to rest.

Number 5:

Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche

Absolutely zero hate intended to Cale Makar... but it is absolutely ridiculous that he is a heavy favourite for the Norris on most sportsbooks. Makar has been easily the best defenceman in the NHL since he joined the league in 2019, amassing two Norris trophies and a Stanley Cup.

However, his defensive play has taken a considerable dip this past year, and the star-studded power play he quarterbacks sits bottom five in the NHL. Makar absolutely deserves to be in the conversation due to his stats and pedigree, but these high standards, paired with the elite play of his peers, must cause him to fall down the rankings.

He is still the gold standard, but this year, others deserve the throne.