Quinn Hughes is getting the attention he deserves for his hot start to the 2023-24 NHL season.
After starting the season with the fourth-best odds at taking home the James Norris Trophy by most oddsmakers, including our friends over at Betway, Hughes is now the favourite to win the award, given to the NHL’s “best all-around defenceman”.
Prior to puck drop on the season, Hughes sat behind Cale Makar, Adam Fox, and Miro Heiskanen on the Norris line. Makar was the favourite to win the award with +175 odds; Fox had +600 odds; Heiskanen +850; and Hughes with +900. This meant that while Makar was the favourite by a considerable margin, the gap between Fox, Heiskanen, and Hughes wasn’t that big.
Now, however, Hughes has skyrocketed up the Norris betting line, currently sitting in the top spot with +200 odds over at Betway. Sitting closely behind him with +250 odds is the original favourite to take home the hardware, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar.
Some other names in the race are Rasmus Dahlin (+800), Adam Fox (+900), Dougie Hamilton and Miro Heiskanen (+1400), Erik Karlsson and Josh Morrissey at (+1800), and further down the list with the 15-best odds, Quinn’s youngest brother Luke, who is playing in his rookie campaign with the New Jersey Devils this season.
The eldest Hughes brother has been turning heads early on this season, and his ranking at the top spot of the Norris race is well-deserved. Currently, Hughes leads all defencemen in points and was second to only Canucks teammate Elias Pettersson in the league’s overall scoring race just a couple days ago. Now, Hughes is tied with his brother Jack and Rangers forward Artemi Panarin for third in league scoring with 20 points through his first 12 games of the year.
Aside from putting up the points, Hughes has been a defensive stalwart for the Canucks all season as well, and is making a strong early case as the Canucks’ most valuable player this season. Hughes has spent most of his time this season with Filip Hronek, who Hughes called the best partner he’s ever played with.
It will be interesting to see how long that partnership lasts, and even more interesting to see how long Hughes’ spot as the front-runner in the Norris Trophy race lasts.
