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”. 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 27 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.

There are arguments that the award should be split into offensive and defensive awards with a new trophy, perhaps the Bobby Orr Trophy, given to the top offensive defenceman.

Who Has Won the Most Norris Trophies?

Boston Bruins legend Bobby Orr has won the most Norris Trophies with eight selections. Many think that Orr easily blows away the competition with Norris wins, but both Niklas Lidstrom and Doug Harvey have won the award seven times.

How is the Winner Chosen for the Norris Trophy?

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. Three finalists are named and the trophy is awarded at the NHL awards ceremony after the conclusion of the playoffs.

Harry Howell’s Called Shot

Howell won the trophy in 1966-67 and during his acceptance speech made a prescient remark.

“I’m glad I won the [Norris Trophy] now, because I expect it’s going to belong to Bobby Orr from now on.”

Harry Howell

Deeper Dive

• Roman Josi Wins His First Norris Trophy
• Blues Have Back to Back Winners [MacInnis & Pronger]

Oldest & Youngest Norris Winners

Youngest to win the award: 19-years old, Bobby Orr – 1967-68

Oldest to win the award: 40-years old, Nicklas Lidstrom – 2010-11

Average age: 28.3years old

…from NHL Awards Oldest & Youngest

Norris Memorial Trophy Winners

Season	Winner	Team	Win #
1953–54	Red Kelly	Detroit Red Wings	1
1954–55	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	1
1955–56	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	2
1956–57	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	3
1957–58	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	4
1958–59	Tom Johnson	Montreal Canadiens	1
1959–60	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	5
1960–61	Doug Harvey	Montreal Canadiens	6
1961–62	Doug Harvey	New York Rangers	7
1962–63	Pierre Pilote	Chicago Black Hawks	1
1963–64	Pierre Pilote	Chicago Black Hawks	2
1964–65	Pierre Pilote	Chicago Black Hawks	3
1965–66	Jacques Laperriere	Montreal Canadiens	1
1966–67	Harry Howell	New York Rangers	1
1967–68	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	1
1968–69	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	2
1969–70	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	3
1970–71	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	4
1971–72	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	5
1972–73	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	6
1973–74	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	7
1974–75	Bobby Orr	Boston Bruins	8
1975–76	Denis Potvin	New York Islanders	1
1976–77	Larry Robinson	Montreal Canadiens	1
1977–78	Denis Potvin	New York Islanders	2
1978–79	Denis Potvin	New York Islanders	3
1979–80	Larry Robinson	Montreal Canadiens	2
1980–81	Randy Carlyle	Pittsburgh Penguins	1
1981–82	Doug Wilson	Chicago Black Hawks	1
1982–83	Rod Langway	Washington Capitals	1
1983–84	Rod Langway	Washington Capitals	2
1984–85	Paul Coffey	Edmonton Oilers	1
1985–86	Paul Coffey	Edmonton Oilers	2
1986–87	Ray Bourque	Boston Bruins	1
1987–88	Ray Bourque	Boston Bruins	2
1988–89	Chris Chelios	Montreal Canadiens	1
1989–90	Ray Bourque	Boston Bruins	3
1990–91	Ray Bourque	Boston Bruins	4
1991–92	Brian Leetch	New York Rangers	1
1992–93	Chris Chelios	Chicago Blackhawks	2
1993–94	Ray Bourque	Boston Bruins	5
1994–95	Paul Coffey	Detroit Red Wings	3
1995–96	Chris Chelios	Chicago Blackhawks	3
1996–97	Brian Leetch	New York Rangers	2
1997–98	Rob Blake	Los Angeles Kings	1
1998–99	Al MacInnis	St. Louis Blues	1
1999–2000	Chris Pronger	St. Louis Blues	1
2000–01	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	1
2001–02	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	2
2002–03	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	3
2003–04	Scott Niedermayer	New Jersey Devils	1
2004–05	2004–05 NHL lockout – No winner	—	—
2005–06	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	4
2006–07	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	5
2007–08	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	6
2008–09	Zdeno Chara	Boston Bruins	1
2009–10	Duncan Keith	Chicago Blackhawks	1
2010–11	Nicklas Lidstrom	Detroit Red Wings	7
2011–12	Erik Karlsson	Ottawa Senators	1
2012–13	P. K. Subban	Montreal Canadiens	1
2013–14	Duncan Keith	Chicago Blackhawks	2
2014–15	Erik Karlsson	Ottawa Senators	2
2015–16	Drew Doughty	Los Angeles Kings	1
2016–17	Brent Burns	San Jose Sharks	1
2017–18	Victor Hedman	Tampa Bay Lightning	1
2018–19	Mark Giordano	Calgary Flames	1
2019–20	Roman Josi	Nashville Predators	1
2020–21	Adam Fox	New York Rangers	1
2021–22	Cale Makar	Colorado Avalanche	1
2022-23	Erik Karlsson	San Jose Sharks	3

Sources:

Wikipedia