The NHL is releasing the award nominations through the early stages of the playoffs, and today was time for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability”. Oftentimes, players are judged on their performance in this category by comparing penalty minutes to points and time on ice. The fewer penalty minutes per point or minute, the better the chances of receiving votes for this award.
The nomination class for the 2023–24 season is headlined by Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews. He is accompanied by Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson and Carolina Hurricanes defender Jaccob Slavin.
This is the second time that Matthews has been a finalist for this award. He was also nominated in the 2019–20 season. That year, he finished second behind eventual winner Nathan MacKinnon.
Auston Matthews’ case for the Lady Byng
Although he may have had 20 penalty minutes on the regular season, the style that Matthews plays and his outrageous offensive production this season lend themselves well to gaining recognition for this award. 69 goals, 107 points, and just shy of 21 minutes of ice time per game help factor into his nomination for the Lady Byng.
This is surely just the beginning of what might be a very active award season for Matthews.
The other Lady Byng finalists
Elias Pettersson is a first-time nominee for this award. His well-rounded game, leadership talents, and ability to play defensively without taking excessive stick infractions give him the complete package that voters are drawn to for the Lady Byng. He had 34 goals and 89 points while playing just shy of 20 minutes per game in the regular season. Doing all this with just 12 PIMS on the year.
Jaccob Slavin is no stranger to the Lady Byng. This is the third time that he is a finalist. Slavin won the award in 2020–21 and finished second in 2021–22. He is a rare breed in this category; it is not often that a defender gets any recognition for the Lady Byng Trophy. But his continual presence in this conversation is a testament to how skilled he is defensively that he can be as good as he is while not taking penalties. In 2023–24, he finished with six goals and 37 points but an astonishingly low 8 PIMS in just under 21 minutes of ice time per game.
Who do you think will take home the Lady Byng Trophy? Drop a comment down below!
