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Avalanche superstar blueliner Cale Makar falls short of 3rd Norris Trophy

Colorado Avalanche superstar defenseman Cale Makar fell short of a third Norris Trophy, showing his ongoing dominance on the blue line.
ByNestor Quixtan|
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May 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
May 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Colorado Avalanche superstar defenseman Cale Makar fell just short of his third Norris Trophy on Tuesday.

The final voting for the top blueliner of the year was announced, with the Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Zach Werenski getting the honor. For Werenski, it was a long time coming. He’d finished in the top five numerous times, finishing second to Makar last year.

This season, Werenski and Makar swapped places, with Makar finishing second. Werenski notched 113 first-place votes, totaling 1,589 points. Meanwhile, Makar grabbed 47 first-place votes and a total of 1,191 points. The 398-point gap wasn’t as significant as last year, putting Makar within striking distance of another Norris Trophy.

Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres was a distant third with 657 points. Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers and Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings rounded out the top five.

For Makar, it’s the sixth straight season he’s been a finalist. He won in 2022 and 2025, finishing second in 2021 and 2026.

That’s a testament to just how dominant Makar has been since entering the league. His overall offensive and defensive play has made him the consensus best defenseman in the NHL. However, Makar hasn’t swept the Norris every season, given the wonderful seasons that other blueliners have had over the years.

It’s worth noting that Makar's absence towards the end of the season this year could have hurt his chances at beating out Werenski. The 27-year-old Makar ended the season with 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games. Had he not missed the games that he did, Makar’s point totals would have been higher than those of Werenski’s. Perhaps that might have been enough to leapfrog the Blue Jackets’ star.

Ultimately, Tuesday’s Norris Trophy voting announcement is just a testament to how good Makar has been throughout his career. Barring a major injury, the Avalanche’s franchise blueliner should be well on his way to dominating the blue line once again. Hopefully, that can translate into another Norris Trophy nomination and win.

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