The Minnesota Wild are in offseason mode while the Stanley Cup Final goes on. The team is obviously going to be focused on retaining players and making additions to ensure that this time next year, the Wild are representing the Western Conference in the Finals.
As is the case through the playoffs and the offseason, the year-end awards are handed out across the NHL. On Tuesday, the NHL officially announced the winner of the Norris Trophy, which is given to the best defenseman of the season. Quinn Hughes of the Wild wasn't a finalist, as he finished seventh in voting after receiving just five first-place votes. As the hockey world all knows, the winner of the 2025-26 Norris Trophy went to Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Hughes and Werenski teamed up for the United States men's ice hockey team for this year's Winter Olympics, where they won their first gold medal since 1980. The two formed a tighter bond while competing in Italy, and Werenski revealed to The Athletic's Aaron Portzline that Hughes gave him motivation to win the Norris Trophy.
Zach Werenski says Quinn Hughes told him Norris Trophy 'was yours to lose'
“Those are the guys who have pushed me to be a better hockey player, especially Quinn (Hughes),” Werenski said. “I have a ton of respect for him, and we’re pretty close (from working out together) in the offseason. At the Olympics (this past winter), we got even closer.
“He just kept telling me all season, ‘This is yours to lose,’ and, ‘Go for it.’ And it gave me a ton of confidence. I thought it was cool that I’m going to be up there with my peers and the guys I’ve played against.”
It is cool to see that Hughes' really pushed for Werenski to continue his strong play to ensure he could convince the voters to pick him to win the Norris Trophy. As great of a season Hughes had this year, there were so many other solid options to contend for the award, such as Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, and Moritz Seider of the Detroit Red Wings.
Through 75 games this season with the Blue Jackets, Werenski recorded 22 goals, 59 assists, 94 blocked shots, 35 takeaways, 30 hits, and a plus-7 plus/minus rating. His assist total was tied for the most in franchise history, which matched his total last year and Artemi Panarin's total in 2018-19. Also, Werenski became just the third United States-born defenseman to record 80 points in consecutive seasons, joining Hockey Hall of Famers Brian Leetch and Phil Housley. Oh, and he was Columbus' leading scorer. Taking all of that into consideration, it's not a shock that Werenski won it all.
This season, between the Canucks and the Wild, Hughes recorded seven goals, 69 assists, 87 blocked shots, and a minus-four plus-minus rating through 74 games. With the Wild, specifically, Hughes had five goals, 48 assists, 55 blocked shots, and a plus-6 plus/minus rating.
Hughes will have a full offseason ahead of him working and planning with the Wild. Being on a team that is expected to contend for the Stanley Cup should help his odds of winning the Norris Trophy for the second time this year.
