| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | A player, having played a minimum of 60 games, who leads the league in plus/minus statistics |
| History | |
| First award | 1982–83 NHL season |
| Final award | 2007–08 NHL season |
TheNHL Plus/Minus Award was a trophy awarded annually by theNational Hockey League to theice hockey "player, having played a minimum of 60 games, who leads the league inplus-minus statistics."[1] It was sponsored by a commercial business, and it had been known under five different names. First given for performance during the1982–83 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 toPavel Datsyuk following the2007–08 season.
Theplus/minus statistic was first established during the1967–68 NHL season. This statistic reflects a player's ability to contribute offensively and defensively.[2] The award was first given at the end of the1982–83 season. From1982–83 to1987–88, it was known as theEmery Edge Award. During1988–89, there was no formal name for the Award. From1989–90 to1995–96, it was known as theAlka-Seltzer Plus Award. From1996–97 to1997–98, it was known as theBud Ice Plus-Minus Award. Finally, from1998–99 to2007–08, it was known as theBud 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 winnersJohn LeClair andChris Pronger. Gretzky recorded the highest single-season result, +100, of all Award winners. The Award was won by players on theEdmonton Oilers andDetroit Red Wings four times each, with three wins by players on theCalgary Flames,Colorado Avalanche,Philadelphia Flyers,Pittsburgh Penguins andSt. Louis Blues.
Including the 20 seasons the League tracked plus-minus as a statistic without an award, theBoston Bruins have led the League 11 times (six byBobby Orr and twice byDavid 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.
* Season shortened by the1994–95 NHL lockout
| C | Centre | LW | Left wing | RW | Right wing | F | Forward | D | Defence |
Bold Player with the best plus-minus ever recorded in a season.
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]
From 1982–83 to 2007–08, the League awarded the player with the best plus-minus. This lists the winners of the plus-minus award by season.
After 2007–08, the League no longer officially awarded the player with the best plus-minus. This lists the leaders of each season from 2008.
* Season shortened by the2012–13 NHL lockout
† Season shortened by theCOVID-19 pandemic
While not all types of goals are included in the calculation of plus-minus — such as power play goals — and every other type of goal is weighed the same,situational plus–minus (Sit +/−) allows for each goal to be included by adjusting by the number of skaters (i.e. notgoaltenders) on the ice at the time of the goal, to accommodate forspecial-team andempty net goals. The plus–minus rating is calculated by dividing the number of skaters on the ice for the team scored upon by the number of skaters on the ice for the scoring team, applied as a plus to all players (including goaltenders) on the ice for the scoring team and as a minus for all players (including goaltenders) on the ice for the team scored upon. This also allows the statistics to be applied to goaltenders.[4]
* Season shortened by the2012–13 NHL lockout
† Season shortened by theCOVID-19 pandemic
^ 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.
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