It’s a familiar name at the top yet again.

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar for the fifth straight year was selected by NHL Network as the best defenseman in hockey. On an annual list chosen by producers and analysts from the network, Makar beat out Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes to retain his top spot.

“We were talking a couple years ago about Cale Makar and Bobby Orr in the same breath,” analyst and former NHL defenseman Ken Daneyko said. “I mean, that’s just unheard of because Bobby Orr for all intents and purposes is the best defenseman to ever play the game; (he) changed the game. And Cale Makar has been that dominant since he has come into the National Hockey League. … He’s still the best defenseman in the world, for my money.”

Makar finished last season third among NHL defensemen with 79 points and was a plus-40. After being named a finalist for the Norris Trophy, Makar joined Orr as the only defensemen in NHL history to be named a finalist for six of his first seven seasons in the league. He became just the 11th defenseman in NHL history to score 20 goals in three consecutive seasons and was the first to do it in over 30 years. The 27-year-old defenseman is entering the final season of a six-year contract he signed in 2021 and could receive the highest cap hit for a defenseman in NHL history on his next deal.

Makar’s defensive partner, Devon Toews, also managed to sneak onto the list, coming in at 20th this year. Both Toews and Makar represented Team Canada at the Winter Olympics and played together as Canada’s top defensive pair. Last week, Avalanche forward Martin Necas was chosen by the network as the 15th-best winger in the league.

Makar and the Avalanche are expected to report for training camp Sept. 16.