An annual award "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." Winner selected in a poll by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association at the end of the regular schedule. The winner receives $10,000 and the runners-up $6,000 and $4,000.
| Year | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins) |
| 2011 | Ryan Kesler (Vancouver Canucks) |
| 2010 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2009 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2008 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2007 | Rod Brind'Amour (Carolina Hurricanes) |
| 2006 | Rod Brind'Amour (Carolina Hurricanes) |
| 2004 | Kris Draper (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2003 | Jere Lehtinen (Dallas Stars) |
| 2002 | Michael Peca (New York Islanders) |
| 2001 | John Madden (New Jersey Devils) |
| 2000 | Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1999 | Jere Lehtinen (Dallas Stars) |
| 1998 | Jere Lehtinen (Dallas Stars) |
| 1997 | Michael Peca (Buffalo Sabres) |
| 1996 | Sergei Fedorov (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1995 | Ron Francis (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| 1994 | Sergei Fedorov (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1993 | Doug Gilmour (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1992 | Guy Carbonneau (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1991 | Dirk Graham (Chicago Blackhawks) |
| 1990 | Rick Meagher (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1989 | Guy Carbonneau (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1988 | Guy Carbonneau (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1987 | Dave Poulin (Philadelphia Flyers) |
| 1986 | Troy Murray (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1985 | Craig Ramsay (Buffalo Sabres) |
| 1983 | Bobby Clarke (Philadelphia Flyers) |
| 1982 | Steve Kasper (Boston Bruins) |
| 1981 | Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1980 | Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1979 | Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1978 | Bob Gainey (Montreal Canadiens) |
