Once summer is over, the regular season for the National Hockey League (NHL) begins. By the end of this season, 16 teams will have made playoffs and are hoping to win the Stanley Cup (the annual championship trophy that is awarded to the NHL’s playoff champion).
The James Norris Memorial Trophy, or known simply as the ‘Norris Trophy’, is an annual award given to the top defence player in the NHL. This player will be somebody who has consistently demonstrated all season that they have the best all-round ability and skill in their position. The award is named after James Norris, the former long-time owner of Detroit Red Wings.
Previous winners of the Norris Trophy (2010-2022)
Red Kelly of the Detroit Red Wings won the first trophy in 1953. Doug Harvey of the Montreal Canadiens won the award every year between 1954 and 1962, except for the regular season in 1958-1959 when his teammate Tom Johnson took the trophy home. Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins has won the award the most times, taking home eight trophies consecutively between 1967 and 1975.
| Season | Player/Team |
| 2022 | Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche |
| 2021 | Adam Fox - New York Rangers |
| 2020 | Roman Josi - Nashville Predators |
| 2019 | Mark Giordano - Calgary Flames |
| 2018 | Victor Hedman - Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2017 | Brent Burns - San Jose Sharks |
| 2016 | Drew Doughty - Los Angeles Kings |
| 2015 | Erik Karlsson - Ottawa Senators |
| 2014 | Duncan Keith - Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2013 | P.K. Subban - Montreal Canadiens |
| 2012 | Erik Karlsson - Ottawa Senators |
| 2011 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2010 | Duncan Keith - Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2009 | Zdeno Chara - Boston Bruins |
| 2008 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2007 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2006 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2004 | Scott Niedermayer - New Jersey Devils |
| 2003 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2002 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
| 2001 | Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings |
Favorites to win the Norris Trophy 2023
Cale Makar - Colorado Avalanche
Within 3 years, Cale Makar went from the winner of the Calder Trophy (NHL’s Rookie of the Year) to winner of the Norris Trophy. Makar won the award last season in 2022 and put up a grand-total of 86 points at just 23 years old. It is no wonder he is the favorite blue liner to win the Norris Trophy this season. His team are also favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
If Makar wins, it would make him the first consecutive winner since Nicklas Lidstrom back in the 2000’s. He is yet to reach his prime, meaning Makar will likely be a favorite to win the Norris Trophy for the next few years.
Adam Fox - New York Rangers
Adam Fox won the Norris Trophy back in the 2021 season, during his second season as a defensive player in the NHL.
Fox is the favorite to win the award after Makar, having scored 74 points last season.
Victor Hedman - Tampa Bay Lightning
Victor Hedman won the Norris Trophy in 2018, but he has been a finalist for the award six years in a row.
Last season Hedman finished with 85 points. It was the most points he had achieved in his entire career, following behind Makar by just one point. If Hedman keeps up his reputation of one of the best blue liners in the NHL, he may take the Norris Trophy home for the second time.
Roman Josi - Nashville Predators
Roman Josi was the Norris Trophy winner in 2020, the first player from the Nashville Predators to win the award.
Josi finished the last season with a mammoth 96 points. If he is able to cross the 100-point mark this regular season, Josi could definitely be taking the Norris Trophy home again.
Contenders to win the Norris Trophy 2023
Aaron Ekblad - Florida Panthers
Aaron Ekblad may have only finished the last season with 57 points, but he did only play 61 games. Therefore, within a full season, it equates to 77 points. These statistics definitely make Ekbald a contender in the Norris Trophy awards.
Other contenders to consider when placing odds for the Norris Trophy winner include: Erik Karlsson (San Jose Sharks), Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo Sabres), Miro Heiskanen (Dallas Stars), Kris Letang (Pittsburgh Penguins), and Charlie McAvoy (Boston Bruins).
Norris Trophy odds 2023
Here are the Norris Trophy odds for 2023, according to DraftKings. Other sports betting sites which are good for odds include Caesars Sportsbook and Bet365.
| Player | Odds |
| Cale Makar | +150 |
| Adam Fox | +800 |
| Victor Hedman | +1000 |
| Roman Josi | +1000 |
| Erik Karlsson | +1200 |
| Rasmus Dahlin | +1600 |
| Aaron Ekbald | +1800 |
| Miro Heiskanen | +2200 |
| Kris Letang | +2500 |
| Charlie McAvoy | +2500 |
| Quinn Hughes | +3000 |
| Moritz Seider | +3000 |
| John Carlson | +3000 |
| Devon Toews | +3000 |
| Shea Theodore | +3500 |
| Morgan Rielly | +3500 |
| Dougie Hamilton | +3500 |
| Alex Pietrangelo | +3500 |
| MacKenzie Weega | +5000 |
| Jaccob Slavin | +5000 |
| Jared Spurgeon | +5000 |
| Tony DeAngelo | +5000 |
| Thomas Chabot | +5000 |
| Noah Dobson | +6000 |
| Justin Faulk | +7500 |
| Drew Doughty | +7500 |
| Brent Burns | +7500 |
| Zach Werenski | +7500 |
| Torey Krug | +7500 |
| Seth Jones | +7500 |
| Rasmus Andersson | +10000 |
| Owen Power | +10000 |
| Jakob Chychrun | +10000 |
| John Klingberg | +10000 |
| Evan Bouchard | +10000 |
| Darnell Nurse | +10000 |
| Bowen Byram | +10000 |
| Josh Morrissey | +15000 |
| Scott Perunovich | +15000 |
| Samuel Girard | +30000 |
| Noah Hanifin | +30000 |
| Matt Dumba | +30000 |
| Dimitry Orlov | +30000 |
| Damon Severson | +30000 |
| Christopher Tanev | +30000 |
| Ben Chiarot | +30000 |
| Tyson Barrie | +30000 |
| Shayne Gostisbehere | +30000 |
