There are a lot of punters out there who think that betting on the Norris Trophy is a waste of time. 

Many will argue that the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL’s best defenseman, is primarily a competition between the last two victors: Cale Makar from the Colorado Avalanche and Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.

Makar is the +150 favorite to win his third Norris in four seasons, while Hughes is right behind him at +200 odds. 

The only other contender near Makar and Hughes in betting odds is Zach Werenski, who we also suggested could be a surprise Hart Trophy winner at 500/1, currently standing at 10/1 odds.

Following Werenski, there are several popular choices like Rasmus Dahlin at 20/1, Evan Bouchard at 30/1, and Lane Hutson at 35/1. However, it’s evident that the betting community largely anticipates a showdown between Makar, Hughes, and the rest of the field.

While that may deter some bettors, I’d argue that it is a good thing for value hunters in what is normally an unpredictable market.

With Makar and Hughes sucking up so much value at the top, some bona fide contenders have slipped to some outrageous prices down the board.

2025-26 Norris Trophy best bets, long shots

Jake Sanderson, Ottawa Senators (100/1, bet365)

Based on these odds, it would seem that Jake Sanderson’s breakout season with Ottawa has flown under the radar. 

A do-it-all No. 1 defenseman for a team on the rise, Sanderson finished with 57 points last season, 10th-most among rearguards, and played more than 24 minutes per game.

Those numbers have ticked up in each of the last two seasons, and another step forward from the American would make him a contender in this race.

I think Sanderson has just as good a chance to win this award as Dahlin or Adam Fox, both of whom are sitting in the 20/1 range.

Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings (500/1, FanDuel)

It’s been a funky career path for Moritz Seider.

He burst onto the scene with 50 points and a Calder Trophy in 2021-22, but his numbers have plateaued since then, and the Red Wings have struggled, causing the German to become somewhat of a forgotten man. 

That’s good news for us, as Seider has drifted to a ridiculous 500/1 despite being a threat to register 60-plus points while playing more than 25 minutes a night.

If Seider hits those marks and the Wings make the playoffs, he’ll be on plenty of ballots.

Betting on the NHL?

Seth Jones, Florida Panthers (500/1, FanDuel) 

There were a lot of number-crunchers who thought that Florida made a mistake by trading for Seth Jones.

They argued that Jones was finished, ignoring the fact that he was playing on one of the league’s worst teams for the last half-decade.

Turns out the Panthers knew what they were doing. Imagine that.

Not only did Jones score some massive goals during Florida’s journey to a second straight Stanley Cup, but he averaged 25:30 of ice time in the playoffs for his new team.

A full season of that kind of production will put Jones, who has topped 50 points twice in his career, in the Norris conversation, and that’s all you’re asking for at this price.

Why Trust New York Post Betting

Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.