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James Norris Memorial Trophy facts for kids

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This page is about the National Hockey League award. For the International Hockey League (1945–2001) award, see James Norris Memorial Trophy (IHL).
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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
Most wins Bobby Orr (8)
Most recent Erik Karlsson
San Jose Sharks

The James Norris Memorial Trophy, often called the Norris Trophy, is a special award in the National Hockey League (NHL). It is given each year to the best "defense player" in the league. This player must show great all-around skill in their position throughout the season.

The trophy is named after James E. Norris, who owned the Detroit Red Wings hockey team for many years. The Norris Trophy has been awarded 62 times to 26 different players since it started in the 1953–54 season. At the end of every season, sports writers who cover hockey vote to pick the best defenseman.

What is the Norris Trophy?

The Norris Trophy honors the top defenseman in the NHL. A defenseman's job is to protect their team's goal and also help score goals. The award recognizes a player who is excellent at both defense and offense.

History of the Norris Trophy

The Norris Trophy was first given out after the 1953–54 NHL season. It was created to honor James E. Norris, who was the owner of the Detroit Red Wings from 1932 to 1952. He was a very important person in hockey.

Who are the top Norris Trophy winners?

Some players have won the Norris Trophy many times. Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins holds the record. He won the award eight times in a row, from 1968 to 1975.

Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidstrom each won the trophy seven times. Ray Bourque won it five times. These players are considered some of the greatest defensemen ever.

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

Norris Trophy and MVP Award

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

  • Bobby Orr won both awards three times: in the 1969–70, 1970–71, and 1971–72 seasons.
  • Chris Pronger won both awards in the 1999–2000 season.

Before the Norris Trophy existed, six defensemen won the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP. These players include Eddie Shore, who won it four times.

How are winners chosen?

Members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the Norris Trophy winner. They vote after the regular season ends. Each voter picks their top five defensemen. They give points to each player: 10 points for first place, 7 for second, 5 for third, 3 for fourth, and 1 for fifth.

The three players with the most votes are named finalists. The winner is then announced at the NHL awards ceremony. This ceremony happens after the playoffs are finished.

Norris Trophy Winners List

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, 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

See also

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

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