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Hughes, Makar among Norris finalists as top defenceman

Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks was among the Norris Trophy finalists named by the NHL on Wednesday.

Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators are the other two finalists.

Hughes, named the Canuck's captain before the season, took his already lofty game up another level this year, scoring 17 goals and adding 75 assists for 92 points in 82 games. Add to that a plus-38 over 24:41 in average ice time, and you have a season worthy of recognition for the Orlando, Fla., native.

Hughes is the first Canuck to be nominated for the Norris and is looking to become the fourth U.S.-born player to win the award.

His younger brother Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils was named a Calder Trophy finalist for rookie of the year on Tuesday.

Makar is no stranger to Norris recognition, having won the trophy for his work in the 2021-22 season, when he also won the Conn Smythe for helping lead the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup win. Makar, a native of Calgary, finished this season with 21 goals and 69 assists for 90 points in 77 games.

The 25-year-old Makar registered his 300th point in his 280th game to become the second-fastest blue-liner in NHL history to reach the milestone, one game shy of Bobby Orr. Makar is a Norris finalist for the fourth time in his first five seasons.

The veteran Josi, who won the Norris for 2019-20, also had a strong season statistically, finishing the year with 23 goals and 62 assists for 85 points in 82 games. He had an ATOI of 24:37.

At age 33, he is the oldest finalist for the trophy since Mark Giordano (35 with Calgary) and Brent Burns (34 with San Jose) were finalists in 2018-19.

Hughes and Josi are facing each other in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a series that Vancouver leads 3-2.

The James Norris Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top "defence player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position" in the NHL, and is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association.

--with files from The Canadian Press

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