Jakob Chychrun receives zero votes for 2026 Norris Trophy despite leading all NHL defensemen in goals
The Washington Capitals had zero representation in voting for the winner of the 2026 Norris Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman.
Jakob Chychrun, who led all of the league’s defenders in goal scoring, did not receive one vote of any kind. The 28-year-old rearguard not only scored more goals (26) than all 14 players who received votes from the Professional Hockey Writers Association, of which RMNB is not a member, but also scored the same amount (60) or more points than four of those blueliners.
Chychrun, who improved his single-season, career-best point total by 13 points, was left off every single ballot after receiving one fifth-place vote in 2025.
2026 Norris Trophy voting
Screenshot: NHL.com
Chychrun finished tied for 11th among defensemen in overall scoring with 60 points (26g, 34a) in 80 games. He was one of only six defenders to hit the 20-goal mark, and all of the other five, Matthew Schaefer, Darren Raddysh, Zach Werenski, Evan Bouchard, and Cale Makar, received votes from members of the PHWA. Chychrun also skated 23:20 of ice time per game, which ranked 27th in the league, a mark that only rose after the Capitals dealt John Carlson at the trade deadline.
According to research done by Japers’ Rink, Chychrun, who tied the all-time mark for game-winning goals by a defenseman (8), is the sole post-lockout defender with at least 18 even-strength goals to earn zero Norris Trophy votes. The other five examples included four Norris wins and one third-place finish.
Werenski, the Columbus Blue Jackets‘ number-one defenseman, was ultimately voted the winner of the trophy, earning 113 of the 198 total first-place votes. The Blue Jackets alternate captain tallied 81 points (22g, 59a) in 75 games for Columbus and is the sixth American defender ever to win the award, following Rod Langway (2), Chris Chelios (3), Brian Leetch (2), Adam Fox, and Quinn Hughes.
Werenski was surprised with the trophy when he and his wife, Odette, hosted friends and family for a barbecue to introduce them to their new baby boy. The couple welcomed their son, Hudson, just two and a half weeks before Werenski received the honor.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Werenski told NHL.com. “I mean, I wouldn’t be here without them. Obviously, in a sense, it’s an individual award. But without them, without my teammates, without a great support staff and system, I wouldn’t be in this position, and I know that. For them to be here today and enjoy this with me, it means everything.”
Werenski led or was near the top of several statistical categories for defenders, including goals (t-3rd, 22), even-strength goals (t-1st, 18), assists (t-4th, 59), points (2nd, 81), even-strength points (2nd, 59), shots (1st, 260) and average time on ice per game (2nd, 26:37). He tied the Blue Jackets franchise record for assists, matching his total from the 2024-25 campaign, and became only the 10th blueliner in NHL history to lead his club in scoring in consecutive seasons.
