The 2026-27 Norris Trophy race opens tightly bunched because multiple elite defensemen enter with comparable two-way profiles, heavy ice time, and proven point production after strong prior campaigns. Cale Makar anchors the top tier with his blend of skating, power-play quarterbacking, and defensive reliability for a contending Avalanche club, while Quinn Hughes brings elite transition play and recent Olympic success in Minnesota. Defending winner Zach Werenski posted 81 points last season on a non-playoff Blue Jackets team, and Lane Hutson, Rasmus Dahlin, and Evan Bouchard sit close behind on the strength of rising scoring totals and special-teams roles. With no regular-season games yet completed, trader consensus reflects historical voting patterns and projected workloads rather than current momentum, leaving room for early injuries, line changes, or hot streaks to shift the field.