Most Norris Trophies Won by One Player (Ranked)

1. Bobby Orr: 8 Norris Trophies

Bobby Orr's eight consecutive Norris Trophies from 1967-68 through 1974-75 stand as the all-time record for defensemen. He didn't just win the award. He revolutionized the entire position.

The Dominance:

• Eight straight Norris wins (1968-75)
• Led NHL in scoring as defenseman (twice)
• First defenseman to score 100+ points
• Changed what defensemen could do offensively
• Career cut short by knee injuries

Why It Matters: Before Orr, defensemen stayed back and played defense. Orr showed that elite skating, offensive creativity, and defensive responsibility could coexist in one player.

His 1970-71 season (139 points) remains the highest single-season total by a defenseman ever. He scored 46 goals from the blue line in 1974-75, a total most modern forwards would be proud of.

The fact that he won eight consecutive Norris Trophies while also winning three Hart Trophies and two Conn Smythes shows he wasn't just the best defenseman, he was often the best player in hockey period.

Now that you know the trophies, try using them in a real puzzle. Gridzy Hockey uses awards like the Hart, Norris, and Vezina in a daily NHL grid game.

Tied for 2nd: Two Players with 7 Norris Trophies

Two defensemen share second place with seven Norris wins each, representing different eras and styles:

Nicklas Lidstrom: 7 Norris Trophies (2001-2011)

• Detroit Red Wings defenseman
• Won between ages 30-40
• Model of positional play and durability
• Quiet dominance, rarely made mistakes
• Four Stanley Cups

Lidstrom's seven Norris wins came while anchoring championship teams. Unlike Orr's flashy offensive style, Lidstrom dominated through positioning, gap control, and hockey IQ.

He made the game look easy, rarely getting caught out of position and always making the right play. His ability to win Norris Trophies into his late 30s showed remarkable consistency and adaptation as the game evolved.

Doug Harvey: 7 Norris Trophies (1955-1962)

• Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers
• Won seven times in 1950s-early 1960s
• Six with Montreal's dynasty
• Controlled pace and breakout play
• Pre-Orr era defensive excellence

Harvey dominated before Orr changed what defensemen could do offensively. He controlled games through positioning, passing, and dictating tempo rather than rushing up ice.

His seven Norris wins with Montreal's dynasty showed he was the engine driving their defensive success during one of hockey's greatest teams ever.

If you can name trophy winners off the top of your head, you'll crush Gridzy. Today's grid might literally be built around what you just read.

4. Ray Bourque: 5 Norris Trophies

Ray Bourque won five Norris Trophies (mainly with Boston) while consistently finishing as a finalist many other years.

The Career:

• Five Norris wins
• 13 additional Norris finalist selections
• All-time leader in points by defenseman
• Finally won Cup with Colorado
• Played 22 NHL seasons

Why It Matters: Bourque's five Norris wins don't fully capture his dominance. He was a Norris finalist 19 times total, meaning he was considered one of the top three defensemen for nearly two full decades.

His 410 goals and 1,579 points remain the highest totals by any defenseman in NHL history. He combined Orr's offensive ability (though not quite at that level) with incredible consistency and longevity.

The fact that he played elite hockey into his 40s and finally won a Cup in his final season with Colorado made him one of hockey's most beloved figures.

The Next Tier: Three-Time Winners

Several elite defensemen won three Norris Trophies:

Paul Coffey: 3 Norris Trophies

• Edmonton Oilers, Detroit Red Wings
• Offensive dynamo in 1980s
• 121 points as defenseman (second-highest ever)

Denis Potvin: 3 Norris Trophies

• New York Islanders
• Anchored four-Cup dynasty
• Complete two-way game

Chris Chelios: 3 Norris Trophies

• Montreal, Chicago
• Longevity and toughness
• Played until age 48

Erik Karlsson: 3 Norris Trophies

• Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins
• Elite skating and offensive creativity
• 101 points as defenseman (2022-23)

Want a fun way to turn NHL awards knowledge into a challenge? Play Gridzy Hockey and see how many trophy-based squares you can solve.

Modern Contenders

Two active defensemen could climb these rankings:

Cale Makar: 2 Norris Trophies (2022, 2025)

• Colorado Avalanche
• Age 26, peak years ahead
• Dynamic skating and offensive creativity
• Could challenge for 5+ Norris wins

Victor Hedman: 1 Norris Trophy

• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Elite two-way defenseman
• Consistently in Norris conversation
• May add more wins

Could Anyone Catch Orr?

The short answer: probably not.

Makar's Path:

• Has 2 Norris at age 26
• Needs 6 more to tie Orr
• Would require dominance into mid-30s
• Competition from other elite defensemen

Modern Challenges:

• Increased parity in NHL
• More elite defensemen competing
• Injury concerns with offensive style
• Voters spread awards more

Orr's eight consecutive Norris wins came during an era when individual dominance was more achievable. Modern salary cap restrictions and increased talent depth make sustained Norris dominance much harder.

The Complete Norris Hierarchy

The ranking of most Norris wins:

1. Bobby Orr: 8
2. Nicklas Lidstrom: 7
3. Doug Harvey: 7
4. Ray Bourque: 5
5. Paul Coffey, Denis Potvin, Chris Chelios, Erik Karlsson: 3 each

Boston Bruins defensemen lead all teams in cumulative Norris wins, largely thanks to Orr and Bourque combining for 13 total.

Why These Numbers Matter

Norris Trophy totals capture defensive excellence across different eras. Orr's eight represent revolutionary dominance. Lidstrom's seven show quiet perfection. Harvey's seven demonstrate pre-modern era excellence.

For current players like Makar, Norris wins define legacy. Two already puts him among elite modern defensemen. If he can reach five or six, he'll rank among the all-time greats.

The Norris isn't just an annual award. It's the measuring stick for defensive greatness, and the players with multiple wins changed how the position is played.

Read more: All 32 NHL Teams Ranked by Defense (2025-2026 Season)

Play Gridzy Hockey Free Every Day

Gridzy Hockey is Shurzy's daily NHL grid game where you pretend you're "just messing around" and then suddenly you're 15 minutes deep arguing with yourself about whether some 2009 fourth-liner qualifies as a 40-goal guy.

You get nine guesses to fill a 3×3 grid, you can't reuse players, and every pick is either a genius flex or instant regret. So yeah, it's basically hockey trivia with stakes.

New grid drops every day at 6:00am ET, which is perfect because nothing says "healthy morning routine" like panicking over who won the Lady Byng in 1998. If you think you know puck, prove it.

Go play Gridzy right now!

‍