An annual award "to the defense player who most demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position." 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) |
|---|---|
| 2013 | P.K. Subban (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 2012 | Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators) |
| 2011 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2010 | Duncan Keith (Chicago Blackhawks) |
| 2009 | Zdeno Chara (Boston Bruins) |
| 2008 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2007 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2006 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2004 | Scott Niedermayer (New Jersey Devils) |
| 2003 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2002 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2001 | Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2000 | Chris Pronger (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1999 | Al MacInnis (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1998 | Rob Blake (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1997 | Brian Leetch (New York Rangers) |
| 1996 | Chris Chelios (Chicago Blackhawks) |
| 1995 | Paul Coffey (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1994 | Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) |
| 1993 | Chris Chelios (Chicago Blackhawks) |
| 1992 | Brian Leetch (New York Rangers) |
| 1991 | Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) |
| 1990 | Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) |
| 1989 | Chris Chelios (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1988 | Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) |
| 1987 | Raymond Bourque (Boston Bruins) |
| 1986 | Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers) |
| 1985 | Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers) |
| 1984 | Rod Langway (Washington Capitals) |
| 1983 | Rod Langway (Washington Capitals) |
| 1982 | Doug Wilson (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1981 | Randy Carlyle (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| 1980 | Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1979 | Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) |
| 1978 | Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) |
| 1977 | Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1976 | Denis Potvin (New York Islanders) |
| 1975 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1974 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1973 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1972 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1971 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1970 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1969 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1968 | Bobby Orr (Boston Bruins) |
| 1967 | Harry Howell (New York Rangers) |
| 1966 | Jacques Laperriere (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1965 | Pierre Pilote (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1964 | Pierre Pilote (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1963 | Pierre Pilote (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1962 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1961 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1960 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1959 | Tom Johnson (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1958 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1957 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1956 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1955 | Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1954 | Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings) |
