The NHL Players’ Association released its annual player poll this week, and Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar earned top honors among defensemen. Makar was overwhelmingly voted the league’s best overall defenseman, receiving 71.78% of the vote—far ahead of Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes (7.44%) and Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman (5.74%). The survey included responses from 663 players across the league and further cements Makar’s elite status during an outstanding season.
The 26-year-old made history this year by becoming just the ninth defenseman ever to score 30 goals in a single season. He ended the regular season with 92 points in 80 games, leading all defensemen in goals, assists, and total points. His average ice time of 25:43 per game ranked third among NHL blueliners.
The NHLPA celebrated Makar’s milestone-filled campaign on social media, stating:
“The 9th defenceman in NHL history to post a 30-goal season–all while assembling a career-high point campaign–who wouldn’t want to add some Cale to their blue line?”
Makar also came in second in the vote for best overall skater, trailing only Connor McDavid. Already a Norris Trophy winner in 2022, Makar has now been a finalist four years in a row and is widely considered the frontrunner once again this season. According to NHL.com’s Trophy Tracker, he received 14 out of 16 first-place votes from a panel of experts.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar praised Makar’s complete game, saying:
“You kind of get immune to it, you get used to seeing it, and you kind of expect it on a nightly basis… a defenseman that doesn’t cheat on the defensive side of things, and then is able to do the things that he does offensively and score 30 goals. That’s pretty special.”
