Cale Makar has once again solidified his status as one of the elite defensemen in the NHL, winning the James Norris Trophy for the 2024-25 season. This marks his second time receiving the prestigious award, having previously won it in 2022. The 26-year-old from Calgary notched 30 goals and 62 assists this season, setting a franchise record for points by a defenseman with 92. Makar's remarkable performance included a stunning 13-game point streak, the second-longest for a defenseman to start a season, and placing him among legends like Bobby Orr.

His achievement this year was underscored by the 176 first-place votes he received from the Professional Hockey Writers Association, far surpassing the 1,266 points of runner-up Zach Werenski and the 918 points of last year's winner, Quinn Hughes. Makar's defensive partner, Devon Toews, humorously acknowledged that Makar could have won even more trophies if not for his own contributions on the ice. The Colorado Avalanche had a strong season overall, although they faced a first-round elimination against the Dallas Stars.