Cale Makar would be posing for photos with the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the third time in his career if we were handing out the NHL hardware tomorrow, but this is just the halfway point of the season, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
Makar is the clear favourite to be recognized as the league’s top defenceman at this point, but there are plenty of other contenders who shouldn’t be overlooked, and players who can certainly turn themselves into bigger contenders after solid starts.
The Olympics are less than a month away, a condensed NHL schedule follows, and most of all, let’s not forget how quickly things can change in the NHL. See: Quinn Hughes.
When this season started, the majority of Sportsnet’s 19 NHL insiders believed it would be the (now former) Canucks captain and star on Vancouver’s blueline who’d be taking home the Norris Trophy, and for the second time in his career. But Hughes was dealt to Minnesota, and after defensive struggles in Vancouver in the first half, he’ll have to rewrite the script in 2026 to work his way back up in the best defenceman conversation.
In addition to Makar and Hughes, we’re putting the spotlight on a handful of other players who deserve early shine, with seven blueliners in all who’ve caught our eye as potential Norris Trophy contenders to this point.
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
The star on Colorado’s blueline is the front-runner for good reason. The 27-year-old from Calgary paces all defencemen with 48 points in 42 games, and Makar averages more than 25 minutes per 60, and a lot of tough ones at that. Playing for the best team in the NHL, his 36 assists rank seventh league-wide, and three of his 12 goals are game winners. Makar will lead Team Canada’s blueline in Italy next month at the Winter Games and while there were a lot of tough decisions to make about who’d wear the Maple Leaf, Makar certainly wasn’t among them. He’s on pace for a third straight 90-point season. Have mercy.
Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
The narrative around the previously lifelong Canucks blueliner has changed since he was traded to Minnesota, and that’s a good thing given his injury-plagued 2024-25 campaign and struggles defensively earlier this season. Hughes, who won the Norris in 2024, remains an offensive juggernaut. He scored in his debut with the Wild, he immediately improved the team’s breakouts and took control on the power play, and he’s operating at a point-per-game clip since the trade, now cooking at plus-six on a great team after opening the season at minus-10 on the second-last team in the West. They say the best defence is great offence, and Hughes spends 46.6 per cent of his time in the opposition’s zone, which ranks in the 97th percentile in the NHL. He also clocks an average of more than 27 minutes per game, more than anyone in the league.
Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
With 45 points in 38 games — and 16 goals, leading all defenders — Werenski is on pace to surpass the 80-point mark for his second straight season. He averages more than 26 minutes per game for Columbus, and the fact he’s a plus-five on the worst team in the Eastern Conference shouldn’t go unnoticed. The Blue Jackets are a collective minus-13. Werenski spends 43.1 per cent of his time in the offensive zone, ranking in the 74th percentile league-wide, also impressive for a team in the East’s basement. He’ll join Hughes on Team USA at the 2026 Olympics. Werenski, 28, was a finalist for the Norris last season.
Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
The 24-year-old is on pace to improve on the career-best 50 points he posted in his rookie season to win the Calder Trophy, with 31 through 44 games. Seider is plus-11 on one of the top teams in the East. No player in Detroit gets more ice time than the nearly 25 minutes a game the German averages. Seider captained his national team at world championships last year, and he’ll again be a leader for Germany at the Milano Cortina Olympics. He’s in the second of his seven-year deal in Detroit, which is good news for fans of the second-best team in the Atlantic.
Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
Last season’s Calder Trophy winner is picking up where he left off after leading all rookies in scoring in his first year in the NHL. The 21-year-old Hutson is on a point-per-game pace through 42 games in his sophomore year, good for third overall among defenders and second overall on the Canadiens, behind only captain Nick Suzuki. Lane is quick and shifty, he plays much bigger than his five-foot-nine stature, and he steals a lot of pucks and makes things happen. Across the NHL, Hutson ranks in the 95th percentile in both maximum skating speed (22.97 m.p.h.) and offensive zone time (46 per cent).
J.J. Moser, Tampa Bay Lightning
Moser isn’t earning our attention for his offensive prowess, with 14 points through 40 games. But nobody in his position across the league boasts a better plus/minus than Moser, at plus-32. In December, he signed an eight-year deal with the Bolts, who rewarded his steady, dependable presence on the back end, which includes physicality that not only keeps dangerous opponents to the outside, but also creates turnovers. With Victor Hedman sidelined by an elbow injury and Ryan McDonagh missing more than a month of action, Moser has stepped up admirably. The 25-year-old will represent the Swiss team at the upcoming Olympics.
Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals
The Caps blueliner with the high hockey IQ and booming shot leads all defencemen with four game winners among his 15 goals. Chychrun also tops everyone in his position in expected goals per 60 minutes (0.73). The 27-year-old plays an attacking style, and his 143 shots this season rank in the league’s 99th percentile.
