### Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski: The 2025 Norris Trophy Finalists The NHL has announced the finalists for the 2024-25 James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league's best defenseman. This year, the nominees are Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Makar's nomination marks his fifth consecutive year as a finalist, while Hughes aims for a repeat after winning the award last season. Werenski, making history as the first finalist from the Blue Jackets, has also had an impressive season. Each player has demonstrated exceptional skill and performance throughout the year, making the competition for the trophy particularly fierce this season [https://clutchpoints.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche/avalanche-news-cale-makar-quinn-hughes-norris-trophy-finalist, https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6318745/2025/04/29/nhl-norris-trophy-finalists-2025-makar, https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/zach-werenski-blue-jackets-named-finalist-norris-trophy]. ### Breakdown of the Finalists and Their Achievements 1. **Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche)** - Achievements: 30 goals, 62 assists, 92 points in 80 games. - Notable: Makar is the first defenseman since Mike Green in 2008-09 to score 30 goals in a season and has been a finalist for five consecutive years [https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/cale-makar-2025-norris-trophy-nomination, https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/avalanche_defenseman_cale_makar_named_norris_trophy_finalist/s1_16448_42126601]. 2. **Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks)** - Achievements: 76 points, 60 assists, and an average of 25:44 minutes of ice time per game. - Notable: Hughes is aiming for a second consecutive Norris Trophy and has reached the 60-assist mark for the fourth straight season, joining an elite group of defensemen in NHL history [https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/canucks-hughes-closer-to-norris-trophy-repeat-makar-werenski-also-named-finalists/article_980e2755-54d8-52cc-8345-0b0dd9230259.html, https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/quinn_hughes_cale_makar_zach_werenski_named_finalists_for_2025_norris_trophy/s1_16958_42125353]. 3. **Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)** - Achievements: 23 goals, 59 assists, 82 points in 81 games. - Notable: Werenski is the first player in Blue Jackets history to be nominated for the Norris Trophy, showcasing his significant contributions to the team this season [https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/zach-werenski-blue-jackets-named-finalist-norris-trophy, https://sports.yahoo.com/article/zach-werenski-nominated-norris-trophy-150033892.html]. ### Statistical Highlights of the Finalists - **Cale Makar** - Goals: 30 - Assists: 62 - Points: 92 - Games Played: 80 - Plus/Minus: +28 - **Quinn Hughes** - Goals: 16 - Assists: 60 - Points: 76 - Games Played: 80 - Average Ice Time: 25:44 - **Zach Werenski** - Goals: 23 - Assists: 59 - Points: 82 - Games Played: 81 These statistics highlight the offensive prowess and overall contributions of each finalist, underscoring their candidacy for the prestigious award [https://www.nhl.com/news/norris-trophy-finalists-for-best-defenseman-for-2024-25-announced-by-nhl, https://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/hughes_makar_werenski_named_2025_norris_trophy_finalists/s1_16448_42126600]. ### Conclusion: A Competitive Race for the Norris Trophy In summary, the 2025 Norris Trophy finalists—Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Zach Werenski—each bring unique strengths and impressive statistics to the table. 1. **Cale Makar** is a seasoned contender with a remarkable scoring record. 2. **Quinn Hughes** seeks to defend his title with consistent high-level performance. 3. **Zach Werenski** breaks new ground for his franchise with his standout season. The winner will be determined by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA), and the competition is expected to be intense given the caliber of talent among the finalists [https://www.nhl.com/news/norris-trophy-finalists-for-best-defenseman-for-2024-25-announced-by-nhl, https://sports.yahoo.com/article/why-nhls-three-norris-trophy-155738722.html].