What trophy is awarded to the NHL's best defenseman each season?

The trophy awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman each season is the James Norris Memorial Trophy. It honors the defense player who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability at the position during the regular season.

The award was first presented after the 1953–54 season and is named for James E. Norris, the longtime owner of the Detroit Red Wings. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote for the finalists and winner, making it a regular-season honor rather than a playoff award.

A common mix-up is “Norris Trophy,” which is an accepted short name for the same award, not a different trophy. Bobby Orr holds the record with eight wins, while Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidstrom each won it seven times. The trophy is specifically for defensemen; the Hart Memorial Trophy recognizes the league’s most valuable player at any position.