NHL Plus-Minus Award

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NHL Plus-Minus Award
SportIce hockey
Awarded forA player, having played a minimum of 60 games, who leads the league in plus/minus statistics
History
First award1982–83 NHL season
Final award2007–08 NHL season

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."[1] It was sponsored by a commercial business, and it had been known under five different names. First given for performance during the 1982–83 season, Wayne Gretzky won the award the most times, with three. Gretzky also led the league once prior to the inception of the award. Bobby Orr has led the NHL 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 season.

History[edit]

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.[2] 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, +100, 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[edit]

Thomas Vanek, one-time winner
Martin St. Louis, one-time winner
Chris Pronger, two-time winner
Michal Rozsival, one-time winner

* Season shortened by the 1994–95 NHL lockout

Positions key
C Centre LW Left wing D Defence RW Right wing F Forward
  Player is still active in the NHL

Bold Player with the best plus-minus ever recorded in a season.


Plus-minus leaders (1967–1982)[edit]

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.[3]

Wayne Gretzky, three-time winner (four-time leader)
Positions key
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 Phil Esposito Boston Bruins C +55 1
1968–69 Bobby Orr Boston Bruins D +55 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 +83 4
1972–73 Jacques Laperriere Montreal Canadiens D +77 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 Buffalo Sabres D +60 1
1980–81 Brian Engblom Montreal Canadiens D +63 1
1981–82 Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers C +80 1


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 +100 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 McSorley1 Los Angeles Kings D +48 1
Theoren Fleury1 Calgary Flames RW 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 LeClair2 Philadelphia Flyers LW +36 2
1999–2000 Chris Pronger St. Louis Blues D +52 2
2000–01 Patrik Elias3 New Jersey Devils LW +45 1
Joe Sakic3 Colorado Avalanche C 1
2001–02 Chris Chelios Detroit Red Wings D +40 1
2002–03 Peter Forsberg4 Colorado Avalanche C +52 1
Milan Hejduk4 Colorado Avalanche RW 1
2003–04 Martin St. Louis5 Tampa Bay Lightning RW +35 1
Marek Malik5 Vancouver Canucks D 1
2004–05 Season cancelled due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06 Wade Redden6 Ottawa Senators D +35 1
Michal Rozsival6 New York Rangers D 1
2006–07 Thomas Vanek Buffalo Sabres LW +47 1
2007–08 Pavel Datsyuk Detroit Red Wings C +41 1

Plus-minus leaders (2008–present)[edit]

* Season shortened by the 2012–13 NHL lockout
† Season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic

Positions key
C Centre LW Left wing D Defence RW Right wing F Forward
  Player is still active in the NHL
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 Chara 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 Kucherov7 Tampa Bay Lightning RW +38 1
Max Pacioretty7 Montreal Canadiens LW 1
2015–16 Tyler Toffoli Los Angeles Kings C +35 1
2016–17 Ryan Suter8 Minnesota Wild D +34 1
Jason Zucker8 LW 1
2017–18 William Karlsson Vegas Golden Knights C +49 1
2018–19 Mark Giordano Calgary Flames D +39 1
2019–20 Ryan Graves Colorado Avalanche D +40 1
2020–21 Mikko Rantanen Colorado Avalanche RW +30 1
2021–22 Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames LW +64 1
2022–23 Hampus Lindholm Boston Bruins D +49 1

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ During the 1990–91 season, there was a tie between Marty McSorley of the Los Angeles Kings and Theoren Fleury of the Calgary Flames.
^ During the 1998–99 season, Alexander Karpovtsev led the League with a +39 rating. However, he played in 58 games and was ineligible since there is a 60-game minimum. Therefore, LeClair was given the award with a +36 rating.
^ During the 2000–01 season, there was a tie between Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche and Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils.
^ During the 2002–03 season, there was a tie between Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche.
^ During the 2003–04 season, there was a tie between Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lighting and Marek Malik of the Vancouver Canucks.
^ During the 2005–06 season, there was a tie between Michal Rozsival of the New York Rangers and Wade Redden of the Ottawa Senators.
^ During the 2014–15 season, there was a tie between Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lighting and Max Pacioretty of the Montreal Canadiens.
^ During the 2016–17 season, there was a tie between Ryan Suter and Jason Zucker of the Minnesota Wild.

References[edit]

General[edit]

  • "Bud Light Plus-Minus Award". nhl.cz (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  • "National Hockey League (NHL) Bud Light Trophy (NHL +/- Award)". Retrieved 2007-10-11.

Specific[edit]

  1. ^ "National Hockey League (NHL) Bud Light Trophy (NHL +/- Award)". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  2. ^ "What is Plus/Minus?". Retrieved 2007-10-11.
  3. ^ "NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Plus/Minus". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.