The hockey season is really hitting its stride.
The season is past the halfway point. But there is ample time to consider a Futures bet, like for the winner of the 2024 Norris Trophy, which is annually given to the best defenseman in a single season.
Here’s a look at the Norris Trophy odds.
2024 NHL Norris Trophy Odds
Here are the latest NHL odds to win the 2024 Norris Trophy as of Friday, Feb. 2, with all lines courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
- Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks (-140)
- Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (+140)
- Noah Dobson, New York Islanders (+2200)
- Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers (+2500)
- Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning (+2800)
- Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets (+4000)
Stay up to date on NHL futures with our hockey odds comparison tool.
It’s a two-player race for the Norris Trophy as of early January.
Cale Makar, the Avalanche’s No. 1 blueliner and the 2022 winner, was the preseason favorite but was quickly supplanted by Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, who is having an incredible season.
There’s a high volume of former winners, like Karlsson, that would make good value plays. For instance, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators won the award in 2020 and was runner-up in 2022.
2024 Norris Trophy Best Bet
Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks (-140)
The fledgling superstar has carried the Canucks, sitting in the top 10 in points in the NHL as of the All-Star break.
Perhaps more importantly, the Canucks are off to a hot start, challenging for the Pacific Division lead. Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet will lean on his No. 1 defenseman, and as long as he’s healthy and producing, he should be a finalist come springtime.
Hughes is the clear favorite, though Makar’s continued great play will keep the Canucks defenseman’s odds still playable for now.
2024 Norris Trophy Contenders
Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche (+140)
Makar is on the short list of the best defensemen in hockey and is healthy, which is the most important obstacle between him and finishing as a Norris finalist. Makar’s odds have already lengthened, which makes now the time to bet him to win if you think he’ll overtake Hughes at some point.
- Read our 2024 Stanley Cup Predictions.
The only major concern is Makar’s injuries, especially the concussions that he had in a short span during the year. They shouldn’t affect Makar’s overall career outlook and didn’t seem to affect his play down the stretch or in the playoffs, but any brain injury make a player more susceptible to more concussions.
Hughes may run away with the award, but Makar is about the only prospect that can take over the award at this point.
2024 Norris Trophy Sleeper
Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers (+2500)
Bouchard’s star power pales to that of teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, but the 24-year-old Edmonton blueliner is having the best season of his young career. He’s in the top-five in points among defensemen and in the top-two among power-play points and will easily set a new career high in points.
Although Hughes, Makar, and Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson are ahead of Bouchard in points, he can get back in the Norris conversation if he can overtake any of them in points. With the high-flying Oilers offense, Bouchard has a chance of making that happen.
