2026-27 Norris Trophy picks, odds: Target these two rising defensemen for solid value

There’s no doubt that the Norris Trophy goes to the defenseman who can post elite point totals. The guys who best quarterback the power play and drive offense will always be in the conversation, but if we learned anything from Evan Bouchard leading all defensemen by 14 points and finishing fourth in Norris voting, it’s that two-way play is just as important. Granted, Bouchard also suffers from the perception that he feeds off the unmatched production of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — especially on the power play. When Zach Werenski claimed the award last year, 59 of his 81 points (second behind Bouchard) were at 5-on-5. He also plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Historical precedent expects elite shot suppression, transition play, and steady defensive-zone performance.Even though Bouchard’s analytics showed he could do all of this highly effectively, he committed a handful of highly publicized turnovers that led directly to goals, and voters never forgot that. The betting market is projecting a repeat year for someone, with Cale Makar (+300), Quinn Hughes (+400) and Werenski (+550) leading the odds board.

It’s the sixth consecutive year that Makar has entered as the oddsmakers’ choice to win, but given that three of the previous five awards have gone to other names, there’s simply no value in making a Makar investment. This is a crowded market with several names that have established themselves already; you can punt on:Hutson finished fourth in both points and Norris voting, and after the Canadiens sprouted to a conference final appearance, there’s reason to believe he’ll take another step forward. He notched 66 points as a rookie before 78 last season.The Canadiens’ young core of exciting talents has another year of experience under its belt. He then carried that impact into the postseason, tying for the Canadiens’ scoring lead with 16 points in 19 games.The perception that Hutson trades defense for offense correlates to his ...