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Zach Werenski Becomes First Blue Jackets Norris Winner

6/3/2026

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Summary

Werenski Wins Norris

Zach Werenski won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman on June 2, 2026.
He earned the trophy with 113 first-place votes and 1,589 points, posting 22 goals, 59 assists and 81 points in 75 games while leading defensemen with 260 shots.
He became the first Columbus Blue Jackets player to win the Norris, learning of the honor weeks after his wife Odette gave birth to son Hudson.

Summary

Dahlin Norris Finalist

Rasmus Dahlin became the second Buffalo Sabres defenseman, after Jim Schoenfeld (1979-80), to be a Norris Trophy finalist.
He posted a career-high 74 points in the 2025-26 season, ranking sixth among NHL defensemen.
Dahlin earned a Masterton Trophy nomination for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.
He received 657 points and 13 first-place votes, finishing third behind Evan Bouchard (593 points), Moritz Seider (360) and Lane Hutson (357).

History

Historical Context

The James Norris Memorial Trophy, introduced in 1953-54, was defined by Bobby Orr’s dominance—he earned a record eight straight awards from 1968 to 1975, including a 139-point season that set a defenseman record. That legacy echoes today as Zach Werenski’s 81-point year gives Columbus its first Norris win and Rasmus Dahlin’s 74 points puts Buffalo back in contention.

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Werenski Wins Norris

Zach Werenski won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman on June 2, 2026.
He earned the trophy with 113 first-place votes and 1,589 points, posting 22 goals, 59 assists and 81 points in 75 games while leading defensemen with 260 shots.
He became the first Columbus Blue Jackets player to win the Norris, learning of the honor weeks after his wife Odette gave birth to son Hudson.

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