Dahlin's Shot at Ending Buffalo's Norris Drought
Three defensemen. Three franchises that have never won this award. One trophy that's about to make history.
The NHL announced Cale Makar, Rasmus Dahlin, and Zach Werenski as the 2025-26 Norris Trophy finalists, and here's what nobody's talking about enough: if either Dahlin or Werenski wins, it would be the first Norris Trophy in their franchise's history. Buffalo has never had a Norris winner. Columbus has never had a Norris winner. One of those streaks ends this year.
That's a big deal. And it's not just about the individual.
Dahlin Carried a Franchise on His Back
Let's be honest about what happened in Buffalo this season. The Sabres went 50-23-9 for 109 points. First division title since 2009-10. First playoff appearance in 14 years, which is the longest drought in NHL history. Dahlin was named team captain, set career highs across the board with 74 points (19 goals, 55 assists) in 77 games, and led the Sabres in even-strength goals, even-strength points, power-play goals, and ice time at 24:11 per game.
He's also a Masterton Trophy finalist. For those who don't know, the Masterton goes to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. That's not a small thing. That's the NHL telling you his story this season mattered.
The last Buffalo defenseman to finish top-five in Norris voting? Actually, there isn't one. Dahlin is the first Sabre blueliner to even make the finalists list. The jump from invisible to finalist in one season isn't supposed to happen in a league this talented.
His 74 points ranked sixth among all defensemen. Solid. Not otherworldly. But his impact went beyond the scoresheet. He played heavy minutes in every situation and helped Buffalo survive a season where the pressure to end a 14-year playoff drought could have fractured a younger team. It didn't. Because of him.
Makar's Bid to Join the Immortals
Cale Makar is trying to become the first repeat winner since Nicklas Lidstrom won three straight from 2006 to 2008. That's nearly two decades. Lidstrom's streak included 176 of 191 first-place votes last year. Makar got those votes. He's already in rare air.
He's the 10th defenseman in NHL history to record three consecutive 20-goal seasons. Bobby Orr holds the record at seven straight. Makar's not catching Orr, but he doesn't need to. The fact that he's on that list at all tells you everything about how complete his game is.
This year: 79 points (20 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. Plus-32 rating, best among the three finalists. And he averaged 1:57 per game on the penalty kill for a Colorado Avalanche team that finished first in the NHL on the PK at 84.6 percent and won the Jennings Trophy, allowing just 197 goals all season.
The Avalanche also won the Presidents' Trophy with 121 points (55-16-11). Makar was a big reason why.
Now here's what makes this race absurdly close: at the three-quarter mark Trophy Tracker, Makar led Werenski by a single voting point. 70 to 69. One point. In a race that will likely come down to how voters weight intangibles versus raw numbers.
If Makar wins, he becomes the 11th defenseman ever to win three or more Norris Trophies. The list includes Orr, Lidstrom, Doug Harvey, Bourque, Potvin, Coffey. That's Hall of Fame company by any measure.
Werenski Deserves More Credit Than He's Getting
Werenski led all three finalists in scoring. 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. Second among NHL defensemen in scoring. He also led all defensemen in shots on goal with 260. That's not a rounding error difference, either. He was way ahead.
He was runner-up last season. His 2024-25 campaign saw him set a franchise record with 82 points for a Columbus defenseman. This year? Even better offensively. He averaged 26:37 of ice time per game, second only to Quinn Hughes (27:44) across the entire NHL. He played 3:02 per game on the power play and 1:13 per game on the penalty kill. That's a heavy workload on both ends.
Columbus didn't make the playoffs, and that will hurt him with some voters. Norris tends to reward success on winning teams. But the argument for Werenski isn't about team results. It's about what he did as an individual defenseman, week after week, in a market that doesn't get the attention a David or Makar does.
He gets overlooked. That's not new for Blue Jackets players. But he probably shouldn't this time.
The Real Story Here
Three defensemen. Three first-time finalists for their franchises. A one-point gap between the leader and third place. This might be the closest Norris vote in years, and nobody's covering it like that.
Dahlin's rise is the emotional core of this race. Buffalo ended the longest playoff drought in hockey history, and their captain was the reason why. Werenski's consistency over two seasons demands respect, even in a market that rarely gets it. Makar is trying to do something only one other defenseman has done in 18 years.
The award ceremony will answer one question. But the real story is that two franchises that have never won this trophy are sending representatives to fight for it, and a third contender is trying to cement a legacy that puts him alongside players whose jerseys hang in the Hall of Fame.
What to watch tonight: nothing, officially. The NHL announces these things without a ceremony. But keep your eyes on the vote count when it drops. This one won't be settled by much.