Zach Werenski Wins First Norris Trophy With Blue Jackets
zach werenski won the James Norris Memorial Trophy and became the first Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman to take the NHL’s top defenseman honor. He was surprised with the award while he and his wife, Odette, hosted friends and family to introduce everyone to their new baby.
Werenski Tops Norris Voting
Werenski received first-place votes on 113 of 198 ballots, finishing well ahead of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, who was second with 47 fewer first-place votes. Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin finished third with 13 first-place votes, while Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard took fourth with 12.
The margin told the story of the voting. Werenski’s total left him in front of a field that also included Quinn Hughes in seventh, Adam Fox in 14th and Tampa Bay Lightning defender Darren Raddysh in 15th. Lane Hutson collected three first-place votes, 13 second-place votes and 20 third-place votes to finish sixth, and Matthew Schaefer received three fourth-place votes and five fifth-place votes to place 12th.
Blue Jackets Scoring Load
Werenski’s season gave the voters plenty to work with. He finished second among defensemen in points with 81, tied for third in goals with 22, tied for fourth in assists with 59 and led all defensemen in shots with 260. He also ranked second in average ice time at 26:37 and averaged the second-most ice time at 5-on-5.
He led the Blue Jackets in scoring for the second straight season, making him the 10th defenseman in NHL history to do it in back-to-back years. Among defensemen who averaged at least 19 minutes at 5-on-5, he ranked first in shot attempt percentage at 53.8 percent.
Makar, Dahlin, Bouchard
Makar’s second-place finish kept him near the top of the Norris race, but Werenski’s voting edge separated the two. Dahlin finished third, and Bouchard, who led all NHL defensemen with 95 points this season, placed fourth despite his scoring total.
For Columbus, the award adds a rare individual prize to a season in which Werenski carried the offense from the back end. For the rest of the league’s defensemen, the ballot showed how tightly the race still ran behind him, even with Bouchard’s 95 points and Raddysh’s jump from 37 points in 73 games last season to 70 points in 73 games in 2025-26.
