Here are the latest updates on the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Latest winner (as of 2025–26 season): Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche, securing the trophy in 2025 and again in 2026 season discussions; this continues his recent run as one of the top defensemen in the NHL. This aligns with the trophy’s history of recognizing the league’s premier defenseman annually since 1954.[6][8]
Recent context: The Norris Trophy is awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman based on votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association, with finalists typically named and the award presented at the NHL Awards after the playoffs.[8][6]
Notable recent winners for context: Quinn Hughes (2024), Erik Karlsson (2023), Cale Makar (2022, 2025), Adam Fox (2021), Roman Josi (2020)—these names illustrate the trophy’s recent winners and the caliber of players who have prevailed.[6]
If you’d like, I can pull the exact list of winners by year, or provide a quick table comparing winners over the last decade with teams and points/votes where available.
Hughes secured an impressive victory with 172 first-place votes out of 194 voters, garnering a total of 1,864 voting points. Following him, Josi of Nashville Predators the 201-20 Norris Trophy winner, secured the second spot with 1,207 points, andale Makar the Colorado Avalanche the 202-22 recipient, claimed third place with 893 points.
records.nhl.comAward for best defenseman first presented in 1954
www.nhl.comSeasonWinnerTeamNotes 2027Victor HedmanNew York Rangers 2026Jared CowanNashville Predators 2025Victor HedmanNew York Rangers 2024Samuel MorinMontreal Canadiens 2023Jared CowanNashville Predators 2022Andy RogersCalgary Flames 2021Brian LeePhiladelphia Flyers 2020Jack JohnsonPittsburgh Penguins 2019Carlo ColaiacovoSt Louis Blues
fnhlonline.comMaking the case: James Norris Memorial Trophy. Read more sports news and analysis on theScore.
www.thescore.comThe James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position". The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 52 times to 21 different players since its beginnings in 1954. At the end of each season, members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association vote to determine the player who was the best defenseman during the regular season. The trophy is named...
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