Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar has joined yet another exclusive list of all-time greats.
Makar has been named a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the fifth time in his career. The other defensemen in NHL history who have been a finalist five times in their first six seasons are Bobby Orr, Brad Park and Dennis Potvin.
The other finalists, announced Tuesday morning, are Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski of Columbus. The NHL has not announced when its major awards will be awarded.
Makar set franchise records for a defenseman with 30 goals and 92 points this season — the second straight year and third time in his career he’s reset the club standard for points at his position. He became the first defenseman to score 30 goals since Mike Green did so for Washington in 2008-09.
He also became the first defenseman with back-to-back 90-plus point seasons since Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis did from 1989-91. Makar had seven more goals and 10 more points than Werenski, who finished second in both categories. The Calgary native also led all defensemen in power-play goals, power-play points and was the only guy at his position to score two shorthanded goals.
Makar won the Norris in 2022. He would be the 14th player in league history to win the award twice. The only other active defenseman with more than one Norris on his resume is Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson, who has claimed it three times.
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