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NHL’s Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Finalists Announced
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson have been named as finalists for the NHL’s prestigious Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, joining previous winner Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes, as per the league’s announcement on Saturday.
The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the player considered to have displayed the best sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and high level of playing ability throughout the season.
Player Profiles
This marks the third occasion that Matthews, winner of the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for being the NHL’s top goal-scorer this season, has been named a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy. Conversely, 25-year-old Pettersson of the Canucks receives his first nomination.
Matthews, aged 26, achieved career-high statistics this season with an impressive 69 goals and 107 points, while incurring only 20 minutes in penalties. His stellar performance contributed to the Maple Leafs securing a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive year.
On the other hand, Pettersson logged 34 goals and 55 assists this season, a slight decrease from his previous campaign. However, he showcased remarkable clutch play with a career-best 10 game-winning goals as the Canucks clinched a 50-23-9 record and their second playoff appearance in nine years. Despite his on-ice intensity, the Swede accumulated a mere 12 penalty minutes throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Slavin, who claimed the Lady Byng Trophy in 2021, experienced a resurgence in form during the current season, tallying 37 points while spending just eight minutes in the penalty box. The 30-year-old defenseman’s consistent play also contributed to the Hurricanes advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
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