The NHL Players’ Association released its annual player poll this week, and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was among the league's best.
Makar was named the NHL's "best overall defenseman" by a significant margin, earning 71.78 percent of the vote and finishing well ahead of Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes (7.44%) and Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman (5.74%).
The poll, which surveyed 663 players across the league, marks another recognition in what has been a standout season for the 26-year-old.
Makar became just the ninth defenseman in NHL history to score 30 goals in a single season and finished the year with 92 points across 80 games.
He also led all defensemen in goals, assists, and points, while averaging 25:43 of ice time per game—the third-highest playing time for blueliners across the NHL.
The NHLPA shared the results on X, shouting out Makar for his impressive achievements on the season:
“The 9th defenceman in NHL history to post a 30-goal season–all while assembling a career-high point campaign–who wouldn’t want to add some Cale to their blue line?”
Makar also finished second in the player poll for best overall skater, receiving 11.41% of the vote behind Connor McDavid.
Makar has already won the Norris Trophy once before, taking the award in 2022, and he has been a finalist each of the last four seasons.
The Avs blueliner is considered the favorite for the Norris Trophy once again this year: according to NHL.com’s Trophy Tracker, Makar received 14 of 16 first-place votes from the site’s panel.
“You kind of get immune to it, you get used to seeing it, and you kind of expect it on a nightly basis,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said about Makar. “But when you really sit back and look at it, the things he’s been able to do… a defenseman that doesn’t cheat on the defensive side of things… and then is able to do the things that he does offensively and score 30 goals.
”That’s pretty special.”
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