COLUMBUS, Ohio — Zach Werenski, the 28-year-old defenseman with the Columbus Blue Jackets, has won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the 2025-26 National Hockey League season.
What You Need To Know
Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski wins James Norris Memorial Trophy for the 2025-26 National Hockey League season
Werenski has become the first Blue Jackets player to receive the award
Other finalists for the award were Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres
The trophy is awarded to the “top defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position,” according to a press release from the team.
Werenski is the first Blue Jackets player to receive the award.
“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,” the release reads. “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.”
Werenski leads the franchise in assists, is second in points, third in number of games played, fourth for shots on goal and fifth in goals. He made his NHL debut in the 2016-2017 season, having been selected by the Blue Jackets in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
The NHL also shared a video on their social media in which Werenski was surprised with the award while his entire family was present.
Zach Werenski thought this was just a regular family BBQ, but he was in for quite a surprise! 🎉
His whole family was on hand to celebrate the first James Norris Memorial Trophy of his career! #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/Rqr8iUP4Tp
— NHL (@NHL) June 2, 2026
“All players I grew up watching, I grew up idolizing, wanted to be like, and to be up there with them, it’s special, more special feeling than I thought it was going to be and just feel honored, feel blessed, feel grateful to have the family I have, the support staff I have and just want to enjoy with them because they’re a huge part of this,” he said in the video.
Other finalists for the award were Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres.
View Werenski’s full stat breakdown here.