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Andy's NHL power rankings for the top-10 James Norris Memorial Trophy candidates for the 2025-26 season. His top Norris Trophy candidates of February 2026 include Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, Rasmus Dahlin, more.
The Olympic break is finally behind us, and it's time to enter the stretch run of the NHL season. After looking at the top-10 Hart Memorial Trophy candidates last week, it's time to shift our attention to the blue line and post the top-10 candidates for the James Norris Trophy.
Since updating these rankings last month, we have seen several players continue to add to their resumes, and we even have a new No. 1 at the top of our list.
Let's dive into the current top-10 favorites to win the 2025-26 Norris Trophy. All statistics and records mentioned are updated as of Wednesday, February 25.
Honorable Mention - Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
Rasmus Dahlin has played a major role in Buffalo's incredible season. Through 53 games, Dahlin has found the back of the net 11 times and added 37 helpers. He has logged 50 hits with 67 blocked shots while posting a -6 +/- rating.
While logging a healthy 24:33 average minutes per game (13th most at the position), the former first overall pick has logged a strong 55% Corsi%, which is well above the average marks. Dahlin has also generated an impressive 44.6% Off-Ice Expected Goals%, which shows his vital role as a puck handler, especially in the offensive zone.
His 9.8 Flurry Adjusted xGoals place him fifth among defenders, further demonstrating the elite quality of chances he is generating for this Buffalo squad. Given these metrics, expect him to remain a near point-per-game player down the stretch.
Over the last 16 games before the break, he totaled 20 points. If he can continue this pace, Dahlin is a safe bet to enter the top 10 next month.
No. 10 - Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
While he is the clear favorite for the Calder, Schaefer also deserves a nod for the Norris. The first overall pick from this last draft has smashed all expectations and has almost single-handedly kept the Islanders in the playoff race (other than netminder Ilya Sorokin).
The 18-year-old has scored an impressive 16 goals, placing him fourth at the position, trailing only three players on this list. He has added 23 helpers, bringing his total to 39 points over 58 games. Despite being a teenager, Schaefer has done more than hold his own in the NHL, generating an impressive 53% Corsi% and a significantly higher 54% Fenwick%, according to MoneyPuck.com.
His most impressive stat comes from his impact off the ice. The 18-year-old has generated the sixth-lowest Off-Ice Expected Goals% (among defenders who have logged at least 850 minutes of ice time) at 43.7%. While his point total may not be as high as other names on this list, the Islanders are generating a high number of goals when he is leading the charge, and are well below average in the offensive zone when he is on the bench.
While he is unlikely to finish near the top five in Norris voting this season, he is expected to remain a favorite for this trophy for years to come.
No. 9 - Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
The current leader in points at the position will take the next spot on our list. Through 58 games, Bouchard has tallied 63 points, with 15 of them being goals and the other 48 coming off assists. He has held a modest +11 rating while logging 161 shots on goal, 78 blocked shots, and 23 hits.
Serving as the "QB" on most offensive possessions, Bouchard has generated a strong 60.4% On-Ice Goals%, which is the ninth-highest mark among defenders who have logged at least 850 minutes of ice time. The 26-year-old has also generated an elite 12.3% Relative Expected Goals%, placing him eighth at the position.
Over his last 13 games, Bouchard has totaled an eye-catching 20 points (six goals).
Additionally, his 58% Corsi% (On-Ice Shot Attempt%) is well above the average marks and further showcases his high-end offensive contribution. However, what keeps him lower on our list is his rather high 3.55 On-Ice Expected Goals Against Per 60 Minutes and his rough 4.31 On-Ice High Danger Shot Attempts Against Per 60 Minutes, both of which are well above the average.
While his high-end offensive play has helped mask these underwhelming defensive metrics on the surface, they will keep much lower on our list.
ROCK⭐️ZONE‼️ #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/Dwr26bpweF
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) February 5, 2026
No. 8 - Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators
Jake Sanderson has enjoyed a surge in scoring this season and is well worthy of Norris votes. The 23-year-old has found the back of the net 11 times in just 57 games, matching a career-high he set last season (across 80 games). Sanderson has also tacked on 35 helpers, bringing his point total to 46, just one behind his career-high mark of 57 (which he also set last season).
While logging a hefty 41.3% Share of Possible Ice Time (sixth highest among defenders who have logged at least 850 minutes of ice time), Sanderson has contributed to all aspects of the game at a high level.
The former fifth overall selection from the 2020 NHL Draft has logged a solid 55% Corsi% while posting a 56% On-Ice Expected Goals%, which is significantly higher than his surface-level 53.8% On-Ice Goals%, suggesting he should see some positive regression in the second half.
The 23-year-old has also added 109 blocked shots while posting a +7 rating. Since the start of the new year, Sanderson has tallied the eighth-most points at the position (19). If the Senators can sneak into the playoffs, Sanderson should make a strong case to finish near the top five.
No. 7 - Darren Raddysh, Tampa Bay Lightning
Darren Raddysh has yet to slow down and is quickly emerging as one of the most dominant defenders in the game. After totaling 37 points over 73 games last season, the 29-year-old has enjoyed an incredible "Year 3" breakout, as he has scored 17 goals (third most at the position) with 35 helpers, both of which have already set career highs (in just 49 games).
Playing for one of the sport's top contenders, Raddysh has posted an elite +17 rating while logging 129 total assists with 50 hits and 49 blocked shots.
However, when looking under the hood, Raddysh's resume is even more impressive. His 61% Corsi% is the highest among all defenders, and his 67.4% On-Ice Goals% places him second at the position, trailing only Sam Malinski of the Avalanche.
His 13.4% Relative Expected Goals% places him fifth at the position, alongside several of the other high-end Norris candidates. The lone "knock" on Raddysh's profile is that he has had the benefit of playing alongside J.J. Moser for most of the season, who has posted a strong 51% Corsi% with a 60.9% On-Ice Goals%, which has helped boost his offensive production.
Nonetheless, Raddysh has enjoyed an amazing breakout season and played a key role in Tampa Bay's standings position.
SOARING US INTO OT! pic.twitter.com/gkCKwuWImr
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) February 4, 2026
No. 6 - Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings
Moritz Seider has seen his level of play decline a bit since the start of the calendar year, which pushes him down on our list. Over his first 41 games, Seider was looking like a legit contender for the Norris as he tallied 31 points while posting a +12 rating with 80 hits and an eye-catching 90 blocked shots.
However, since January 1 (17 games), Seider has tallied just seven points (all helpers) with a lower +1 rating with 18 hits and 40 blocked shots.
Despite this, his massive role on the Detroit blue line keeps him just below the top half of our power rankings. Per MoneyPuck.com, Seider has logged the fourth-highest share of possible ice time at the position (42.2%) and has generated the fifth-highest Fenwick% (57%). His strong 13.3% Relative Expected Goals% places him sixth among defenders and suggests he should see an uptick in offensive production once play resumes.
If the 24-year-old can return to his first-half level of play, expect him to quickly return to the top of this ranking in March.
No. 5 - Jakob Chychrun, Washington Capitals
The position's leading goal scorer will hold the next spot on our list. Jakob Chychrun has done nothing short of impressive in a lead role on the Washington blue line. Throughout his first 57 games, Chychrun has logged a season-high 23:39 minutes of ice time per game. This is only the third time in his career that he has logged over 23 minutes on average.
His 182 shots on goal place him No. 2 among defenders, trailing only the top player on our list.
Under the hood, Chychrun has generated a stellar 59% Corsi% while boasting the third-highest Relative Expected Goals% among defenders, trailing only two defenders, both of whom are also on this list. More importantly, his 14.2 Flurry Adjusted xGoals place him at the top of the position. Chychrun has emerged as a legit candidate for the Norris and should enter the top three if Washington can sneak into the playoffs.
Scoring 20 goals as a defenseman is sick.
Scoring your 20th goal of the season as a defenseman like this is absolutely insane. pic.twitter.com/S0HznqX5EJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 6, 2026
No. 4 - Lane Hutson, Montreal Canadiens
When looking at pure offensive impact, Lane Hutson's metrics might be the most impressive at the position. Per MoneyPuck.com, the former second-round pick has generated the third-highest On-Ice Goals% at the position (among defenders who have logged at least 850 minutes of ice time) while posting the third-highest On-Ice Expected Goals%, suggesting his current production is sustainable.
Additionally, Hutson has posted a low 43.5% Off-Ice Expected Goals%, indicating the impact of his presence in the offensive zone.
On the surface, Hutson's 58 points place him third at the position, while his 48 helpers also place him third at the position, trailing only Bouchard and the No. 2 name on our list. While his offensive skill will keep him in the Norris conversations, he is also an elite shot blocker, as he logged 90 across 57 games while posting a strong +22 rating.
No. 3 - Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Last month's No. 1 will take a bit of a dive in this month's ranking to the No. 3 spot. While Makar still carries elite metrics and is worthy of strong consideration for the Norris, his recent play has been well below that of the two names above him.
Since January 1, Makar has scored just three goals and added nine helpers over a 16-game stretch. Throughout his cold slump, Makar has posted a -6 rating and tallied just 10 hits with 24 blocks. Before this skid, Makar racked up 45 points (over 39 games) with a stellar +34 rating, 18 hits, and 67 blocked shots.
While his recent skid has slightly hindered his Norris odds, Makar still holds a strong 57% Corsi% with an elite 63.7% On-Ice Goals%, suggesting he should be in line for a massive surge in March.
No. 2 - Quinn Hughes, Minnesota Wild
Next on our list will be Minnesota's Quinn Hughes. Hughes was on one of the most impressive scoring streaks before the Olympic break and carried it into Milan, totaling eight points in six games, including an overtime game-winning goal.
From January 17 through February 4, Hughes tallied the second-most points in the night league (18) across just 10 games. During this dominant stretch, Hughes scored two goals, took on 16 helpers, and held a +5 rating.
Under the hood, the superstar has generated a remarkable 60% Corsi%, placing him second at the position, trailing only Raddysh. His 41.4% Off-Ice Expected goals are the worst among all defenders, which further demonstrates the massive impact he has in scoring situations. Hughes is also generating these remarkable offensive metrics while logging a hefty 45.7% Share of Possible Ice Time, the highest mark among defenders.
No. 1 - Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
Sitting at the top of our list is Zach Werenski of the Blue Jackets. When looking at pure value to his team, there is no other defender in the game who makes as much of an impact as Werenski does to the Blue Jackets.
Since January 11, the Blue Jackets have been one of the most dominant teams in the NHL and have quickly re-entered the playoff conversation after sitting on the outside in the first half. During this stretch, the Blue Jackets have won 11 out of 12 games and are quickly approaching the top-3 spots in the Metropolitan Division.
During this 12-game stretch, Werenski has tallied 16 points while holding a +3 rating. Since the start of the new year, Werenski has tallied 22 points over 17 games, the fifth most at the position.
Overall, Werenski's 1.19 P/GP remains the highest among all defenders, and his 20 goals are just one behind Chychrun for the most at the position; however, Werenski has played in five fewer games.
Per MoneyPuck.com, the 28-year-old has posted a 54% Corsi% while logging a high 43.1% Share of Possible Ice Time. He has also generated an elite 9.8 Flurry Adjusted xGoals. Entering the final stretch, Werenski stands as the clear favorite.
Zach Werenski now has EIGHTEEN (18) goals in 43 games played... AS A DEFENSEMAN 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/COm3cYeMlR
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) January 16, 2026
On the Outside Looking In
- Josh Morrissey, WPG
- Miro Heiskanen, DAL
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