Hughes, Josi and Makar announced as 2023-24 Norris Trophy finalists

It was a marvellous season for defenseman, and the league’s best received their flowers on Wednesday as Vancouver Canucks’ captain Quinn Hughes, Nashville Predators’ captain Roman Josi and Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar were named as the finalists for the 2023-24 Norris Trophy.

For Hughes, the 24-year-old blueliner hit career highs in all offensive categories, scoring 17 goals and 75 assists for 92 points, leading the league in points for defenseman.

But it was his play at both ends of the ice that helped lead the Canucks from a mediocre 2022-23 season, finishing sixth in the Pacific Division and 11th in the Western Conference, to a 2023-24 campaign that had them at the top of the league for most of the season. Vancouver finished with a 50-23-9 record, clinching the Pacific Division and their first non-covid playoff appearance since 2014-15.

The 33-year-old Josi almost singlehandedly dragged the Predators into the postseason with his performance, scoring 23 goals and 62 assists for 85 points, the second-highest point total of his career.

The Predators finished 47-30-5 with 99 points, clinching the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the Western Conference.

Makar, 25, set his own career highs with 69 assists and 90 points, helping lead the Avalanche to a playoff spot, finishing third in the Central Division with a 50-25-7 record and 107 points.

All three defenseman were in the top-three in scoring for blueliners, and they all averaged just under 25 minutes per game in ice time.

Hughes and the Canucks have a 3-2 series lead over Josi and the Predators in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Meanwhile, Makar and the Avalanche eliminated the Winnipeg Jets 4-1 in their first-round series.