The NHL Plus-Minus Award was a trophy awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the ice hockey "player, having played a minimum of 60 games, who leads the league in plus/minus statistics."
It was sponsored by a commercial business and it had been known under five different names.
First given for performance in the 1982-83 NHL season, Wayne Gretzky won the award the most times, three, and also led the League once prior to the inception of the Award.
Bobby Orr has led the League the most times in plus-minus, with six, all prior to the inception of the Award.
The award was discontinued after being awarded to Pavel Datsyuk following the 2007-08 NHL season.
History[]
The plus/minus statistic was first established during the 1967–68 NHL season. This statistic reflects a player's ability to contribute offensively and defensively.
The award was first given at the end of the 1982–83 season. From 1982–83 to 1987–88, it was known as the Emery Edge Award.
During 1988–89, there was no formal name for the Award. From 1989–90 to 1995–96, it was known as the Alka-Seltzer Plus Award.
From 1996–97 to 1997–98, it was known as the Bud Ice Plus-Minus Award. Finally, from 1998–99 to 2007–08, it was known as the Bud Light Plus-Minus Award.
Three-time winner Wayne Gretzky won the award the most times out of any player, and is one of only three repeat winners, joined by two-time winners John LeClair and Chris Pronger.
Gretzky recorded the highest single-season result, +98, of all Award winners. The Award was won by players on the Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings four times each, with three wins by players on the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues.
Including the 20 seasons the League tracked plus-minus as a statistic without an award, the Boston Bruins have led the League 11 times (six by Bobby Orr and twice by David Krejci, the only other repeat leaders), Edmonton Oilers five times (four by Wayne Gretzky, including three official awards) and four times each by players on the Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers.
Winners[]
Template:Legend
| Season | Player | Team | Position | Rating | Win # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–83 | Charlie Huddy | Edmonton Oilers | D | +63 | 1 |
| 1983–84 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | +76 | 1 |
| 1984–85 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | +98 | 2 |
| 1985–86 | Mark Howe | Philadelphia Flyers | D | +85 | 1 |
| 1986–87 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | +70 | 3 |
| 1987–88 | Brad McCrimmon | Calgary Flames | D | +48 | 1 |
| 1988–89 | Joe Mullen | Calgary Flames | F | +51 | 1 |
| 1989–90 | Paul Cavallini | St. Louis Blues | D | +38 | 1 |
| 1990–91 | Marty McSorleyTemplate:Ref | Los Angeles Kings | D | +48 | 1 |
| 1990–91 | Theoren FleuryTemplate:Ref | Calgary Flames | RW | +48 | 1 |
| 1991–92 | Paul Ysebaert | Detroit Red Wings | LW | +44 | 1 |
| 1992–93 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | +55 | 1 |
| 1993–94 | Scott Stevens | New Jersey Devils | D | +53 | 1 |
| 1994–95* | Ron Francis | Pittsburgh Penguins | C | +30 | 1 |
| 1995–96 | Vladimir Konstantinov | Detroit Red Wings | D | +60 | 1 |
| 1996–97 | John LeClair | Philadelphia Flyers | C | +44 | 1 |
| 1997–98 | Chris Pronger | St. Louis Blues | D | +47 | 1 |
| 1998–99 | John LeClair (While Alexander Karpovtsev did have a better plus/minus than LeClair, he only played in 58 games, 2 short of the minimum.) | Philadelphia Flyers | LW | +36 | 2 |
| 1999–2000 | Chris Pronger | St. Louis Blues | D | +52 | 2 |
| 2000–01 | Patrik EliasTemplate:Ref | New Jersey Devils | LW | +45 | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Joe SakicTemplate:Ref | Colorado Avalanche | C | +45 | 1 |
| 2001–02 | Chris Chelios | Detroit Red Wings | D | +40 | 1 |
| 2002–03 | Peter ForsbergTemplate:Ref | Colorado Avalanche | C | +52 | 1 |
| 2002–03 | Milan HejdukTemplate:Ref | Colorado Avalanche | RW | +52 | 1 |
| 2003–04 | Martin St. LouisTemplate:Ref | Tampa Bay Lightning | RW | +35 | 1 |
| 2003–04 | Marek MalikTemplate:Ref | Vancouver Canucks | D | +35 | 1 |
| 2004–05 | 2004–05 NHL lockout No winner |
— | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | Wade Redden Template:Ref | Ottawa Senators | D | +35 | 1 |
| 2005–06 | Michal RozsivalTemplate:Ref | New York Rangers | D | +35 | 1 |
| 2006–07 | Thomas Vanek | Buffalo Sabres | LW | +47 | 1 |
| 2007–08 | Pavel Datsyuk | Detroit Red Wings | C | +41 | 1 |
Plus-minus leaders (1967–1982)[]
Before 1983, there was no award for leading the League in plus-minus.
The NHL started counting the statistics in 1967 and this lists all the leaders from the inception of the statistic to the inception of the award.
| C | Centre | LW | Left Wing | D | Defence | RW | Right Wing | F | Forward |
| Season | Player | Team | Position | Rating | Win # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967–68 | Dallas Smith | Boston Bruins | D | +33 | 1 |
| 1968–69 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +65 | 1 |
| 1969–70 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +54 | 2 |
| 1970–71 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +124 | 3 |
| 1971–72 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +86 | 4 |
| 1972–73 | Jacques Laperriere | Montreal Canadiens | D | +78 | 1 |
| 1973–74 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +84 | 5 |
| 1974–75 | Bobby Orr | Boston Bruins | D | +80 | 6 |
| 1975–76 | Bobby Clarke | Philadelphia Flyers | C | +83 | 1 |
| 1976–77 | Larry Robinson | Montreal Canadiens | D | +120 | 1 |
| 1977–78 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | RW | +73 | 1 |
| 1978–79 | Bryan Trottier | New York Islanders | C | +76 | 1 |
| 1979–80 | Jim Schoenfeld (Some sources incorrectly list Jimmy Watson as a co-leader. Watson finished second with a +53) | Buffalo Sabres | D | +60 | 1 |
| 1980–81 | Brian Engblom | Montreal Canadiens | D | +63 | 1 |
| 1981–82 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | C | +81 | 1 |
Plus-minus leaders (2008–present)[]
* Season shortened by the 2012–13 NHL lockout
| C | Centre | LW | Left Wing | D | Defence | RW | Right Wing | F | Forward |
Template:Legend
| Season | Player | Team | Position | Rating | Win # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | David Krejci | Boston Bruins | C | +37 | 1 |
| 2009–10 | Jeff Schultz | Washington Capitals | D | +50 | 1 |
| 2010–11 | Zdeno Chára | Boston Bruins | D | +33 | 1 |
| 2011–12 | Patrice Bergeron | Boston Bruins | C | +36 | 1 |
| 2012–13 | Pascal Dupuis | Pittsburgh Penguins | RW | +31 | 1 |
| 2013–14 | David Krejci | Boston Bruins | C | +39 | 2 |
| 2014–15 | Nikita Kucherov | Tampa Bay Lightning | RW | +38 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | Max Pacioretty | Montreal Canadiens | LW | +38 | 1 |
