The Lester B. Pearson Award was introduced to the National Hockey League by the National Hockey League Players' Association in 1972. The award is presented annually to the "most outstanding player" in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the National Hockey League Players' Association.

The award is named after Canada's Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson who served as leader of his nation between 1963 and 1968. Pearson was also the Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1957. A passionate hockey fan, Pearson played hockey for the Oxford Canadians while attending university in London, England. He later lectured at the University of Toronto while coaching the varsity hockey team.

Leading winners: Wayne Gretzky (5), Mario Lemieux (4), Jaromir Jagr (3), Guy Lafleur (3).

The first winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award was Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in 1971.

Sidney Crosby, the 2006-07 Lester B. Pearson recipient