PLUS/MINUS TROPHY WINNERS (DEFUNCT)

 

The award was presented to the NHL in 1989-90 by Bud Ice to recognize the league leader in plus-minus statistics. Plus-minus statistics are calculated by giving a players a "plus" when on-ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal scored by his team. He receives a "minus" when on-ice for an even strength or shorthanded goal scored by the opposing team. A plus-minus award has been presented annually since the 1982-83 season.The trophy has been sponsored by a number of different companies over the years. The sponsoring companies have included Emery Worldwide (Emery Edge Trophy), Alka-Seltzer (Alka-Seltzer Trophy) and Anheuser-Busch Inc (Bud Ice Trophy, Bud Light Trophy).

 

First Awarded: 1982-83

First Winner: Wayne Gretzky

Last Awarded: 2007-2008

Last Winner: Pavel Datsuyk

Given To: The player that has the highest plus/minus rating. The winner must have played at least 60 games in the season to qualify.

Plus/minus is probably the most-criticized “old school” hockey statistic. Maybe that’s why the NHL Plus/Minus Award was retired after 2008. Either that, or they couldn’t get a brand of beer to slap their name on it.This award has changed names and appearances over the years. When it was first introduced, it was called the Emery Edge Award, which sounds awesome. It had no real name for the 1988-89 season, but then was renamed the Alka-Seltzer Plus Award, then the Bud Ice Plus-Minus Award and then finally the Bud Light Plus-Minus Award.Should the NHL re-introduce this award, I would hope that they would again call it the Emery Edge Award, which might be named after a sponsor, but sounds much cooler than the Immodium AD Plus-Minus Award or the Toyota Corolla Plus-Minus Trophy, or some other ridiculous, mile-long sponsorship name.

NHL Plus/Minus Award Winners
2012-13 Pascal Dupuis   Pittsburgh Penguins (+31)
2011-12 Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins (+36)
2010-11    Zdeno Chara    Boston Bruins (+33)
2009-10    Jeff Schultz    Washington (+50)
2008-09    David Krejci    Boston Bruins (+37)
2007-08    Pavel Datsyuk    Detroit Red Wings (+41)
2006-07    Tomas Vanek    Buffalo Sabres (+47)
2005-06    Wade Redden & Michal Rozsival    Ottawa Senators and New York Rangers
2004-05    No winner due to the 2004-05 NHL lockout
2003-04    Martin St. Louis & Marek Malik    Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks
2002-03    Peter Forsberg & Milan Hejduk    Colorado Avalanche
2001-02    Chris Chelios    Detroit Red Wings
2000-01    Joe Sakic & Patrik Elias    Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils
1999-00    Chris Pronger    St. Louis Blues
1998-99    John LeClair    Philadelphia Flyers
1997-98    Chris Pronger    St. Louis Blues
1996-97    John LeClair    Philadelphia Flyers
1995-96    Vladimir Konstantinov    Detroit Red Wings
1994-95    Ron Francis    Pittsburgh Penguins
1993-94    Scott Stevens    New Jersey Devils
1992-93    Mario Lemieux    Pittsburgh Penguins
1991-92    Paul Ysebaert    Detroit Red Wings
1990-91    Marty McSorley & Theo Fleury    Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames
1989-90    Paul Cavallini    St. Louis Blues
1988-89    Joe Mullen    Calgary Flames
1987-88    Brad McCrimmon    Calgary Flames
1986-87    Wayne Gretzky    Edmonton Oilers
1985-86    Mark Howe    Philadelphia Flyers
1984-85    Wayne Gretzky    Edmonton Oilers
1983-84    Wayne Gretzky    Edmonton Oilers
1982-83    Charlie Huddy    Edmonton Oilers

NHL Plus/Minus Award (List of Winners)
The Plus-Minus Award is given to the player that has the highest Plus/Minus in the National Hockey League.