Lady Byng Memorial Trophy History and Previous Winners for the Montreal Canadiens
The head coach of the Canadiens is familiar with this prize from his playing days.
On Thursday, May 30, the NHL will present the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy prior to the start of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The player assessed to have demonstrated the finest kind of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct in addition to a high level of playing ability is given the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Elias Pettersson, Jaccob Slavin, and Auston Matthews are the nominees for this honor.
The wife of Viscount Byng of Vimy, Marie Evelyn Moreton, is honored with this award. Viscount Byng served as Canada’s governor general from 1921 to 1926 and led Canadian forces at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. As a devoted hockey enthusiast, Lady Byng gave the trophy to the NHL in 1924.
The inaugural trophy was given to Frank Nighbor, one of the original Ottawa Senators, by Lady Byng. She asked whether the NHL would like to present a most gentlemanly player award, and she invited Nighbor to Rideau Hall to show him the trophy. Nightbor received the 1924–25 trophy from Lady Byng because he thought the NHL would accept it.
A Montreal Canadien had to win the award for 22 seasons before doing it again for 42. Although the Canadiens don’t have much history with the award, one current Montreal Canadiens player has won it multiple times.
