Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes has been named a finalist for the National Hockey League’s James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s best all-around defenceman.

Also nominated for the award are the Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar and the Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski. Makar finished behind Hughes for the award last season, when the Canucks’ captain captured the first Norris Trophy in franchise history. Despite being widely regarded as the game’s top defenceman, Makar has won the award just once in 2021-22, finishing as the runner-up in 2020-21, and again as a finalist in 2022-23.

Makar put together the best season of his career in 2024-25, scoring 30 goals and amassing 92 total points through 80 games played. Makar is the first defenceman to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in the 2008-09 season. Makar is the fifth defenceman all-time to post back-to-back 90-point seasons and the first since Paul Coffey (three, 1988-89 to 1990-91) and Al MacInnis (two, 1989-90 to 1990-91). The 26-year-old is a Norris Trophy finalist for the fifth time in his first six NHL seasons.

Meanwhile, Zach Werenski’s spectacular season went a bit under the radar, but with 82 points in 81 games, it probably shouldn’t have. Werenski nearly dragged the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs, and broke his own franchise records for goals, assists, and points by a defenceman. He also became the first defenceman in Blue Jackets history to lead the team in scoring. It was a spectacular season for the young defenceman, and all three of these players are well-deserving of this recognition.

Winning the award in back-to-back seasons has proven to be difficult historically, which isn’t great news for Quinn Hughes. Canucks fans know all about the impact Hughes had on the Canucks this season and just how dominant he was. Unfortunately, Hughes appeared in just 68 games this season after missing time with a couple of injuries, which could hurt his chances of winning the award for the second straight season.

The winner of the award, voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, will be announced at a later date.