NHL Norris Trophy rankings: A clear favorite emerges from the pack

4. Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild

Quinn Hughes is inarguably the best defenseman on the planet, and his stats attest to that. He scored 1.03 points per game and finished with the second-most assists (69) and most primary assists (33) despite playing only 74 games.

Hughes only scored 12 goals, but that’s not an indictment by any means. He’s a setup man first and foremost, and he should be celebrated for it.

The perception, reinforced by the eye test, is that Hughes has improved the Wild since arriving in Minnesota, but their record says otherwise. The Wild had a .641 points percentage in the 32 games before acquiring Hughes and a .630 points percentage after he landed in Saint Paul.

While it’s more challenging to sustain a higher points percentage over the long run, the notion is worth debating. Either way, Hughes won’t win the Norris this time around.

MORE: Wild's Quinn Hughes Sets Franchise Record For Most Points As A Defenseman In Single-Season

3. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche

Cale Makar’s Norris Trophy hopes faded long before he suffered an injury that kept him out of the lineup for seven games.

In the 10 games from Jan. 4 to Feb. 4, Makar mustered just 10 points in 15 games. That anemic patch, unsurprisingly, coincided with the Avs’ worst stint of the season (6-7-2).

Despite not playing at the peak of his powers consistently and playing fewer games, Makar finished third among defensemen with 1.05 points per game.

It won’t be enough to defend his crown as the world’s best defenseman, but I get a sneaky feeling he’ll be smack dab in the middle of the Norris Trophy conversation again next season. And the one after, and so on.

2. Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets

If the Norris Trophy were awarded at the start of March, it would have been Werenski’s.

A lot has since changed, with Werenski and his Columbus Blue Jackets stumbling across the finish line. Werenski was tied with Bouchard for the most points per game (1.15) at the start of April.

However, he managed just four points in the final 11 games of the season, joining the rest of the Blue Jackets in falling off a cliff.

There’s also the fact that Adam Fox is the only Norris Trophy winner to win the award despite not making the playoffs. I’m also having trouble getting Rick Bowness’ heartfelt yet angry rant out of my head.

MORE: Blue Jackets Coach Rick Bowness Rips Into Team After Season Finale

1. Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers

If the last three years are anything to go by, Bouchard should be considered the heavy favorite to win his first Norris Trophy.

The last three winners (Makar, Quinn Hughes, Erik Karlsson) finished with the most points. Bouchard will not only finish atop the scoring leaderboard, but he’ll do so with ease, 11 points clear of second-place Werenski with a game remaining.

He also scored the most points per game (1.14), with Werenski again the closest blue-liner at 1.08.

Given recent precedent and Werenski’s downturn, Bouchard is the rightful choice to have his name inscribed alongside the world’s best.

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