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James Norris Memorial Trophy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the National Hockey League award. For the International Hockey League (1945–2001) award, see James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL).
Quick facts for kids
James Norris Memorial Trophy
Hhof norris.jpg
Sport Ice hockey
Given for "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position" in the National Hockey League
History
First award 1953–54 NHL season
First winner Red Kelly
Most wins Bobby Orr (8)
Most recent Cale Makar
Colorado Avalanche

The James Norris Memorial Trophy, often called the Norris Trophy, is a special award in the National Hockey League (NHL). It's given out every year to the best defense player in the league. This player needs to show great all-around skill in their position throughout the whole season. The trophy is named after James E. Norris, who used to own the Detroit Red Wings hockey team for many years.

The Norris Trophy has been awarded 62 times to 26 different players since it first started in the 1953–54 NHL season. At the end of each hockey season, sports writers who cover hockey vote to decide who the best defenseman was.

History of the Norris Trophy

The Norris Trophy is named after James E. Norris. He was the owner of the Detroit Red Wings from 1932 to 1952. The award was first given out after the 1953–54 NHL season.

Who Has Won the Most Norris Trophies?

Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins won the award a record eight times in a row. He won it every year from 1968 to 1975. Other players who won many times include Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidstrom, who each won seven times. Ray Bourque won the trophy five times.

The Boston Bruins team has had the most Norris Trophy winners, with 14 players. The Montreal Canadiens are second, with 12 winners.

Norris Trophy and MVP Award Winners

Only two players have won both the Norris Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy in the same season. The Hart Trophy is given to the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Before the Norris Trophy was created, six defensemen won the Hart Trophy. These players were Herb Gardiner, Eddie Shore (four times), Albert "Babe" Siebert, Ebbie Goodfellow, Tommy Anderson, and Babe Pratt.

How the Norris Trophy Winner is Chosen

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote at the end of the regular season. Each voter picks their top five defensemen. They give points based on their ranking: 10 points for first place, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, and 1 for fifth.

After the votes are counted, three finalists are announced. The winner receives the trophy at the NHL awards ceremony. This ceremony happens after the playoffs are finished.

Winners

Bobby Orr 2010 WinterCl
Bobby Orr, who won the award eight times.
NicklasLidstrom
Nicklas Lidstrom, a seven-time winner.
Bourque 7
Ray Bourque, who won five times.
Erik Karlsson 2011-11-25
Erik Karlsson, a three-time winner.
Brian Leetch New York Rangers 1997
Brian Leetch, who won the award twice.
Cale Makar playing with the Avalanche in 2020 (Quintin Soloviev) (cropped)
Cale Makar, a two-time winner.
Chrisprongerdryden
Chris Pronger, a 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

Season Winner Team Win # Team Win #
1953–54 Kelly, RedRed Kelly Detroit Red Wings 1 1
1954–55 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 1 1
1955–56 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 2 2
1956–57 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 3 3
1957–58 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 4 4
1958–59 Johnson, TomTom Johnson Montreal Canadiens 1 5
1959–60 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 5 6
1960–61 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey Montreal Canadiens 6 7
1961–62 Harvey, DougDoug Harvey New York Rangers 7 1
1962–63 Pilote, PierrePierre Pilote Chicago Black Hawks 1 1
1963–64 Pilote, PierrePierre Pilote Chicago Black Hawks 2 2
1964–65 Pilote, PierrePierre Pilote Chicago Black Hawks 3 3
1965–66 Laperriere, JacquesJacques Laperriere Montreal Canadiens 1 8
1966–67 Howell, HarryHarry Howell New York Rangers 1 2
1967–68 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 1 1
1968–69 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 2 2
1969–70 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 3 3
1970–71 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 4 4
1971–72 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 5 5
1972–73 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 6 6
1973–74 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 7 7
1974–75 Orr, BobbyBobby Orr Boston Bruins 8 8
1975–76 Potvin, DenisDenis Potvin New York Islanders 1 1
1976–77 Robinson, LarryLarry Robinson Montreal Canadiens 1 9
1977–78 Potvin, DenisDenis Potvin New York Islanders 2 2
1978–79 Potvin, DenisDenis Potvin New York Islanders 3 3
1979–80 Robinson, LarryLarry Robinson Montreal Canadiens 2 10
1980–81 Carlyle, RandyRandy Carlyle Pittsburgh Penguins 1 1
1981–82 Wilson, DougDoug Wilson Chicago Black Hawks 1 4
1982–83 Langway, RodRod Langway Washington Capitals 1 1
1983–84 Langway, RodRod Langway Washington Capitals 2 2
1984–85 Coffey, PaulPaul Coffey Edmonton Oilers 1 1
1985–86 Coffey, PaulPaul Coffey Edmonton Oilers 2 2
1986–87 Bourque, RayRay Bourque Boston Bruins 1 9
1987–88 Bourque, RayRay Bourque Boston Bruins 2 10
1988–89 Chelios, ChrisChris Chelios Montreal Canadiens 1 11
1989–90 Bourque, RayRay Bourque Boston Bruins 3 11
1990–91 Bourque, RayRay Bourque Boston Bruins 4 12
1991–92 Leetch, BrianBrian Leetch New York Rangers 1 3
1992–93 Chelios, ChrisChris Chelios Chicago Blackhawks 2 5
1993–94 Bourque, RayRay Bourque Boston Bruins 5 13
1994–95 Coffey, PaulPaul Coffey Detroit Red Wings 3 2
1995–96 Chelios, ChrisChris Chelios Chicago Blackhawks 3 6
1996–97 Leetch, BrianBrian Leetch New York Rangers 2 4
1997–98 Blake, RobRob Blake Los Angeles Kings 1 1
1998–99 MacInnis, AlAl MacInnis St. Louis Blues 1 1
1999–2000 Pronger, ChrisChris Pronger St. Louis Blues 1 2
2000–01 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 1 3
2001–02 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 2 4
2002–03 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 3 5
2003–04 Niedermayer, ScottScott Niedermayer New Jersey Devils 1 1
2004–05 Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 4 6
2006–07 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 5 7
2007–08 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 6 8
2008–09 Chara, ZdenoZdeno Chara Boston Bruins 1 14
2009–10 Keith, DuncanDuncan Keith Chicago Blackhawks 1 7
2010–11 Lidstrom, NicklasNicklas Lidstrom Detroit Red Wings 7 9
2011–12 Karlsson, ErikErik Karlsson Ottawa Senators 1 1
2012–13 Subban, P. K.P. K. Subban Montreal Canadiens 1 12
2013–14 Keith, DuncanDuncan Keith Chicago Blackhawks 2 8
2014–15 Karlsson, ErikErik Karlsson Ottawa Senators 2 2
2015–16 Doughty, DrewDrew Doughty Los Angeles Kings 1 2
2016–17 Burns, BrentBrent Burns San Jose Sharks 1 1
2017–18 Hedman, VictorVictor Hedman Tampa Bay Lightning 1 1
2018–19 Giordano, MarkMark Giordano Calgary Flames 1 1
2019–20 Josi, RomanRoman Josi Nashville Predators 1 1
2020–21 Fox, AdamAdam Fox New York Rangers 1 5
2021–22 Makar, CaleCale Makar Colorado Avalanche 1 1
2022–23 Karlsson, ErikErik Karlsson San Jose Sharks 3 2
2023–24 Hughes, QuinnQuinn Hughes Vancouver Canucks 1 1
2024–25 Makar, CaleCale Makar Colorado Avalanche 2 2

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Trofeo James Norris para niños

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