What's at stake

A single defenseman will be named the NHL's top overall defenseman for the 2025–26 season with the James Norris Memorial Trophy.

The award confers season-long recognition, affects legacy and contract leverage, and signals who combined elite defense and offensive contribution from the blue line.

Who's in play

Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, and Adam Fox are among the headline contenders for the 2025–26 Norris.

Other names in play include Rasmus Dahlin, Roman Josi, Erik Karlsson, Miro Heiskanen, Jake Sanderson, Evan Bouchard and a mix of established and rising top-pair defensemen.

What drives it

On-ice performance metrics — points, defensive possession (xGF/xGA), plus-minus context, and heavy minutes — are the core drivers voters consider.

Team success, power-play role, availability through injuries, narrative momentum, and visibility in marquee games also sway Professional Hockey Writers' Association voting.

What to watch

Early-season power-play usage, top-pair minutes, and underlying possession numbers will reveal which defenders are building Norris résumés.

Watch All-Star selections, midseason scoring milestones, trade-deadline moves in March, injury reports, and end-of-season media coverage and PHWA voting notes.