An annual award "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." 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 | Brian Campbell (Florida Panthers) |
| 2011 | Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning) |
| 2010 | Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay Lightning) |
| 2009 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2008 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2007 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2006 | Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 2004 | Brad Richards (Tampa Bay Lightning) |
| 2003 | Alexander Mogilny (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 2002 | Ron Francis (Carolina Hurricanes) |
| 2001 | Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche) |
| 2000 | Pavol Demitra (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1999 | Wayne Gretzky (New York Rangers) |
| 1998 | Ron Francis (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| 1997 | Paul Kariya (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) |
| 1996 | Paul Kariya (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) |
| 1995 | Ron Francis (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| 1994 | Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1993 | Pierre Turgeon (New York Islanders) |
| 1992 | Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1991 | Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1990 | Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1989 | Joe Mullen (Calgary Flames) |
| 1988 | Mats Naslund (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1987 | Joe Mullen (Calgary Flames) |
| 1986 | Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) |
| 1985 | Jari Kurri (Edmonton Oilers) |
| 1984 | Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) |
| 1983 | Mike Bossy (New York Islanders) |
| 1982 | Rick Middleton (Boston Bruins) |
| 1981 | Rick Kehoe (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| 1980 | Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers) |
| 1979 | Bob MacMillan (Atlanta Flames) |
| 1978 | Butch Goring (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1977 | Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings) |
| 1976 | Jean Ratelle (Boston Bruins/New York Rangers) |
| 1975 | Marcel Dionne (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1974 | Johnny Bucyk (Boston Bruins) |
| 1973 | Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo Sabres) |
| 1972 | Jean Ratelle (New York Rangers) |
| 1971 | Johnny Bucyk (Boston Bruins) |
| 1970 | Phil Goyette (St. Louis Blues) |
| 1969 | Alex Delvecchio (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1968 | Stan Mikita (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1967 | Stan Mikita (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1966 | Alex Delvecchio (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1965 | Bobby Hull (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1964 | Ken Wharram (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1963 | Dave Keon (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1962 | Dave Keon (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1961 | Red Kelly (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1960 | Don McKenney (Boston Bruins) |
| 1959 | Alex Delvecchio (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1958 | Camille Henry (New York Rangers) |
| 1957 | Andy Hebenton (New York Rangers) |
| 1956 | Earl "Dutch" Reibel (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1955 | Sid Smith (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1954 | Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1953 | Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1952 | Sid Smith (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1951 | Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1950 | Edgar Laprade (New York Rangers) |
| 1949 | Bill Quackenbush (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1948 | Buddy O'Connor (New York Rangers) |
| 1947 | Bobby Bauer (Boston Bruins) |
| 1946 | Toe Blake (Montreal Canadiens) |
| 1945 | Bill Mosienko (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1944 | Clint Smith (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1943 | Max Bentley (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1942 | Syl Apps Sr. (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1941 | Bobby Bauer (Boston Bruins) |
| 1940 | Bobby Bauer (Boston Bruins) |
| 1939 | Clint Smith (New York Rangers) |
| 1938 | Gordie Drillon (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1937 | Marty Barry (Detroit Red Wings) |
| 1936 | Doc Romnes (Chicago Black Hawks) |
| 1935 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1934 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1933 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1932 | Joe Primeau (Toronto Maple Leafs) |
| 1931 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1930 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1929 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1928 | Frank Boucher (New York Rangers) |
| 1927 | Billy Burch (New York Americans) |
| 1926 | Frank Nighbor (Ottawa Senators) |
| 1925 | Frank Nighbor (Ottawa Senators) |
