Zach Werenski Wins Norris Trophy as NHL's Top Defenseman
He brought home a gold medal in the Olympics, and now another important accolade for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. The CBJ blueliner was named the 2025-26 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, the club announced Tuesday.
The award is given annually to the NHL’s “top defensive player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.” The other finalists for 2025-26 were Colorado’s Cale Makar and Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin.
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.
Werenski, who finished second in the voting to Colorado’s Cale Makar last season for the same award, recorded 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points, including 18-41-59 at even strength, with 260 shots on goal and a plus-7 rating while averaging 26:37 of ice time in 75 games in 2025-26.
He finished second in the NHL in average ice time, tied for 14th in even-strength points, and 15th in multi-point efforts (26). Werenski also led league blueliners in multi-point efforts, even-strength goals (tied), and shots on goal. He ranked second in points, points per game (1.08), and even-strength points, tied for third in goals, and fourth in assists.
The 28-year-old blueliner led Columbus in assists, points, points per game, multi-point efforts, and shots on goal and finished third in goals. He set a single-season club record for multi-point outings and tied the franchise mark for assists for the second consecutive season. He also registered the third-highest total for even-strength points and the fourth-most points in a single campaign in franchise history.
The Grosse Pointe, Michigan, native became the fifth U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to record multiple 80-point campaigns in 2025-26 after notching 23-59-82 in 81 games in 2024-25. He is the third to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons, joining Phil Housley (1991-92 to 1992-93 with Winnipeg) and Brian Leetch (1990-91 to 1991-92 with the New York Rangers). He is also the third American blueliner to notch consecutive 20-goal campaigns, joining Housley (six straight from 1986-92) and Reed Larson (five straight from 1979-84).
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 games across 10 NHL seasons with the Blue Jackets. He leads all NHL defensemen in even-strength goals (104) and ranks third in goals, fourth in shots on goal, and eighth in points since making his NHL debut in 2016-17. He was selected by Columbus in the first round, eighth overall, in the 2015 NHL Draft.