Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar wins second Norris Trophy as NHL's top defenceman
Cale Makar capped another banner NHL season with the award that goes to the league's top defenceman.
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The Colorado Avalanche blueliner claimed the James Norris Trophy for the 2024-25 campaign after also earning it in 2022.
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The 26-year-old from Calgary has been nominated for the Norris five times in his first six years in the league.
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Makar was the overwhelming choice of Professional Hockey Writers Association voters this year with 176 first-place votes among 191 cast.
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His 1,861 voting points beat out runner-up Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets (1,266) and last year's winner Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks (918).
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With 30 goals and 62 assists, Makar set an Avalanche record for points by a defenceman. He became the fifth defenceman all-time in the NHL to post back-to-back 90-point seasons and the first since Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
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The Avalanche went 49-29-4 this past season before their elimination in the first round in seven games by the Dallas Stars.
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Makar was golfing in his hometown of Calgary when he was surprised by friends and family, including his wife and parents, with the trophy.
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The NHL posted a video of the celebration Wednesday.
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'Any time you get recognized for something like this it's very cool,' Makar said in the video. 'It's very special to be able to do this a second time.
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'It's truly a team award and we had a fun year, and it'll hopefully be more fun continuing, but this one's for them.'
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Devon Toews, Makar's defensive partner with the Avs and with Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, said in a video posted by the team, 'Congrats on your second Norris Trophy. I'm sure you'd have three or four more if I wasn't anchoring you down, but super-proud of you.'
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Added forward Nathan MacKinnon: 'Congratulations on your Norris. Feels like 10. Apparently, it's only two.'
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Makar opened the season with a 13-game point streak, which was the second-longest to start behind Bobby Orr's 15 games in 1973-74.
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