Established in 1994 to recognize the accomplishments of the top American-born player in NCAA Division I men's college hockey, the Jim Johannson College Player of the Year award is presented annually by USA Hockey. In 2019, it was renamed in honor of the late Jim Johannson, who played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin and spent two decades as an executive at USA Hockey.
| Year | Name | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Cutter Gauthier | Scottsdale, Ariz. |
| 2023 | Logan Cooley | Pittsburgh, Penn. |
| 2022 | Dryden McKay | Downers Grove, Ill. |
| 2021 | Cole Caufield | Stevens Point, Wis. |
| 2020 | Scott Perunovich | Hibbing, Minn. |
| 2019 | Adam Fox | Jericho, N.Y. |
| 2018 | Adam Gaudette | Braintree, Mass. |
| 2017 | Will Butcher | Sun Prairie, Wis. |
| 2016 | Kyle Connor | Shelby Township, Mich. |
| 2015 | Jack Eichel | North Chelmsford, Mass. |
| 2014 | Johnny Gaudreau | Carneys Point, N.J. |
| 2013 | Eric Hartzell | White Bear Lake, Minn. |
| 2012 | Jack Connolly | Duluth, Minn. |
| 2011 | Andy Miele | Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. |
| 2010 | Blake Geoffrion | Brentwood, Tenn. |
| 2009 | Colin Wilson | Greenwich, Conn. |
| 2008 | Nathan Gerbe | Oxford, Mich. |
| 2007 | Jeff Lerg | Livonia, Mich. |
| 2006 | Matt Carle | Anchorage, Alaska |
| 2005 | Marty Sertich | Roseville, Minn. |
| 2004 | Adam Berkhoel | St. Paul, Minn. |
| 2003 | Michael Ayers | Hingham, Mass. |
| 2002 | Jordan Leopold | Golden Valley, Minn. |
| 2001 | Ryan Miller | East Lansing, Mich. |
| 2000 | Mike Mottau | Quincy, Mass. |
| 1999 | Mike York | Waterford, Mich. |
| 1998 | Chris Drury | Trumbull, Conn. |
| 1997 | Chris Drury | Trumbull, Conn. |