"Werenski robbed" "Disappeared in the playoffs": NHL fans react as Avalanche's Cale Makar wins his second Norris Trophy as league's top D-man

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar won the 2024-25 Norris Trophy on Wednesday. The award honors the NHL's best all-around defenseman. This is Makar's second Norris Trophy, his first coming in the 2021-22 season.

Makar received 176 of 191 first-place votes and ranked in the top three on every ballot. He finished with 1,861 total points. Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets finished second with 1,266 points. Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks placed third with 918 points.

After the announcement, NHL fans reacted on social media. Some praised Makar, whereas others disagreed with the choice.

“Werenski robbed,” one fan said.

"Completely disappeared in the playoffs, was by far the worst defenseman on the ice. Gave up multiple goals because he decided to not play defense," another fan said.

"He’s going to retire as the greatest defenseman of all time isn’t he," one fan wrote.

Here are some more reactions from fans.

"this award is basically just the defenseman who scores the most points. Dallas turned him into a pylon defensively in their series," a fan said.

"Normalize awarding the Norris to the NHL’s leading defenseman in +/- relative to their TOI," one fan said.

"Shame that the Norris Trophy is more about offensive minded defenseman rather than defensive minded defenseman. Forsling and Slavin are top two in the league," one fan mentioned.

Makar's award was based only on regular-season performance.

The NHL Awards show will air on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on TNT and Sportsnet. It will highlight all the top players from the 2024–25 season.

Cale Makar received the Norris Trophy as a surprise while golfing

Cale Makar found out while golfing with friends and family. His wife and parents were there to surprise him with the trophy. The NHL shared the news in a video before the awards show on Thursday.

Makar had a strong regular season, leading all defensemen with 30 goals, 62 assists and 92 points. His 30 goals were the most by a defenseman since 2008–09. His point total set a new record for a defenseman in Avalanche history. He also opened the season with a 13-game point streak.

Makar became the fifth defenseman to have back-to-back 90-point seasons. The last to do that was Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis in the early 1990s.

Makar is now one of only two active defensemen with more than one Norris Trophy. The other is Erik Karlsson, who has three.