James Norris Memorial Trophy

The James Norris Memorial Trophy, or simply the Norris Trophy, is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position".[1] It is named after James E. Norris, the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings. The James Norris Memorial Trophy has been awarded 62 times to 26 players since its beginnings in 1953–54. At the end of each season, members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote to determine the player who was the best defenseman during the regular season.

James Norris Memorial Trophy
SportIce hockey
Awarded for"defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position" in the National Hockey League[1]
History
First award1953–54 NHL season
Most winsBobby Orr (8)
Most recentErik Karlsson
San Jose Sharks

History

The trophy is named in honour of James E. Norris, owner of the National Hockey League's Detroit Red Wings from 1932 to 1952.[1] The trophy was first awarded at the conclusion of the 1953–54 NHL season.

Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins won the award for a record eight consecutive seasons (1968–75). Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidstrom won the award seven times, and Ray Bourque won it five times; Bourque was in the top three vote-getters for the trophy a further ten times. The Boston Bruins have had the most Norris Trophies winners with 14; the Montreal Canadiens have had the second most with 12.[2]

Only two players have won both the Norris and Hart Memorial Trophy for the league Most Valuable Player in the same season: Bobby Orr, who won both trophies in the 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72 seasons, and Chris Pronger, who won the Hart and Norris in the 1999–2000 NHL season.[3] As of 2021, no defenseman has won the Hart Trophy without also winning the Norris Trophy since the latter was introduced.

Six defensemen won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player before the Norris Trophy's establishment: Herb Gardiner, Eddie Shore (four times), Albert "Babe" Siebert, Ebbie Goodfellow, Tommy Anderson and Babe Pratt.[4]

Save for Randy Carlyle, every Norris winner eligible to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame has been.

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote at the end of the regular season, and each individual voter ranks their top five candidates on a 10–7–5–3–1 point(s) system.[5] Three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL awards ceremony after the conclusion of the playoffs.

Winners

Bobby Orr, eight-time winner.
Nicklas Lidstrom, seven-time winner.
Ray Bourque, five-time winner.
Erik Karlsson, three-time winner.
Brian Leetch, two-time winner.
Chris Pronger, one-time winner.
  Player is still active
  Eligible player not yet elected to Hockey Hall of Fame
  Inactive player not yet eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame
SeasonWinnerTeamWin #Team Win #
1953–54Red KellyDetroit Red Wings11
1954–55Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens11
1955–56Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens22
1956–57Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens33
1957–58Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens44
1958–59Tom JohnsonMontreal Canadiens15
1959–60Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens56
1960–61Doug HarveyMontreal Canadiens67
1961–62Doug HarveyNew York Rangers71
1962–63Pierre PiloteChicago Black Hawks11
1963–64Pierre PiloteChicago Black Hawks22
1964–65Pierre PiloteChicago Black Hawks33
1965–66Jacques LaperriereMontreal Canadiens18
1966–67Harry HowellNew York Rangers12
1967–68Bobby OrrBoston Bruins11
1968–69Bobby OrrBoston Bruins22
1969–70Bobby OrrBoston Bruins33
1970–71Bobby OrrBoston Bruins44
1971–72Bobby OrrBoston Bruins55
1972–73Bobby OrrBoston Bruins66
1973–74Bobby OrrBoston Bruins77
1974–75Bobby OrrBoston Bruins88
1975–76Denis PotvinNew York Islanders11
1976–77Larry RobinsonMontreal Canadiens19
1977–78Denis PotvinNew York Islanders22
1978–79Denis PotvinNew York Islanders33
1979–80Larry RobinsonMontreal Canadiens210
1980–81Randy CarlylePittsburgh Penguins11
1981–82Doug WilsonChicago Black Hawks14
1982–83Rod LangwayWashington Capitals11
1983–84Rod LangwayWashington Capitals22
1984–85Paul CoffeyEdmonton Oilers11
1985–86Paul CoffeyEdmonton Oilers22
1986–87Ray BourqueBoston Bruins19
1987–88Ray BourqueBoston Bruins210
1988–89Chris CheliosMontreal Canadiens111
1989–90Ray BourqueBoston Bruins311
1990–91Ray BourqueBoston Bruins412
1991–92Brian LeetchNew York Rangers13
1992–93Chris CheliosChicago Blackhawks25
1993–94Ray BourqueBoston Bruins513
1994–95Paul CoffeyDetroit Red Wings32
1995–96Chris CheliosChicago Blackhawks36
1996–97Brian LeetchNew York Rangers24
1997–98Rob BlakeLos Angeles Kings11
1998–99Al MacInnisSt. Louis Blues11
1999–2000Chris ProngerSt. Louis Blues12
2000–01Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings13
2001–02Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings24
2002–03Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings35
2003–04Scott NiedermayerNew Jersey Devils11
2004–05Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings46
2006–07Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings57
2007–08Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings68
2008–09Zdeno CharaBoston Bruins114
2009–10Duncan KeithChicago Blackhawks17
2010–11Nicklas LidstromDetroit Red Wings79
2011–12Erik KarlssonOttawa Senators11
2012–13P. K. SubbanMontreal Canadiens112
2013–14Duncan KeithChicago Blackhawks28
2014–15Erik KarlssonOttawa Senators22
2015–16Drew DoughtyLos Angeles Kings12
2016–17Brent BurnsSan Jose Sharks11
2017–18Victor HedmanTampa Bay Lightning11
2018–19Mark GiordanoCalgary Flames11
2019–20Roman JosiNashville Predators11
2020–21Adam FoxNew York Rangers15
2021–22Cale MakarColorado Avalanche11
2022–23Erik KarlssonSan Jose Sharks32

See also

References

General
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