COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is one of three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
What You Need To Know
Werenski’s nomination is for the second consecutive campaign for the award, which is given annually to the NHL’s top defensive player
Other finalists for the 2025-2026 campaign are Cale Makar, Colorado, and Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo
Werenski registered 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points; including 18-41-59 at even strength with 260 shots on goal and +7 plus/minus rating on 26:37 of ice time in 75 games with the Blue Jackets
Werenski’s nomination is for the second consecutive campaign for the award, which is given annually to the NHL’s top defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.
Other finalists for the 2025-2026 campaign are Cale Makar, Colorado, and Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo. Werenski finished second in voting for the award last season.
At 28-years-old, Werenski registered 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points; including 18-41-59 at even strength with 260 shots on goal and +7 plus/minus rating on 26:37 of ice time in 75 games with the Blue Jackets.
He finished second in the NHL in average ice time, 14th-T in even-strength points and 15th in multi-point efforts (26)
Werenski led Columbus in assits, points, points-per-game, multi-point efforts and shots on goal and finished third in goals. He set a new single-season club record for multi-point outings and tied the franchise mark for assists for the second consecutive season.
He previously set single-season club records for defensemen with 23-59-82 in 81 contests in 2024-25 and is the fifth U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to record multiple 80-point campaigns.
Werenski is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and ranks second in points, third in games played, fourth in shots on goal and fifth in goals with 135-330-465 and 1,846 shots in 642 career game sin 10 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets.
The James Norris Memorial Trophy was first presented in 1953-54 by the children of the late James Norris in memory of the former owner-president of the Detroit Red Wings. Nominees are voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the end of the regular season with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.