Cale Makar has been nominated for the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the sixth time in his seven-year NHL career, joining Bobby Orr as the only defensemen to achieve this in six of their first seven seasons.
## What happened?
The Colorado Avalanche defenseman earned his sixth Norris Trophy finalist nomination, a testament to his exceptional skills on the ice.
Avalanche Insider Evan Rawal noted on X that Makar becomes just the second defenseman in NHL history to be a Norris Trophy finalist in six of his first seven seasons, alongside Bobby Orr.
## Why it matters for Cale Makar
This nomination solidifies Makar's status as one of the top defensemen in the league, with his impressive performance in the postseason, scoring four goals with an assist.
Makar has averaged just under 24 minutes of ice time per game, helping the Avalanche complete the sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and remain undefeated against the Minnesota Wild.
## What comes next?
The Avalanche will face the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 on Saturday evening, starting at 9:00 p.m. ET from Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.
Makar suffered an injury scare in the opening game but returned to score twice in the 9-6 victory for the Avalanche at Ball Arena.
The Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog has been praising Nathan MacKinnon's skills, but Makar's nomination is a significant achievement for the team.
Cale Makar's performance has been crucial in the Avalanche's success, and his nomination is well-deserved.
The Norris Trophy finalist announcement has sparked discussions about the top defensemen in the league, with some arguing that Rasmus Dahlin should win the 2025-26 Norris Trophy over Cale Makar and Zach Werenski.