Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar and Jake Sanderson of the Ottawa Senators are the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, the NHL announced on Thursday.
The 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.”
Caufield would be a first-time winner of the award. The Canadiens sniper led the Canadiens with 51 goals, becoming Montreal’s first 50-goal scorer in 36 years, while taking 14 penalty minutes.
Kopitar, who retired after his Kings fell to the Colorado Avalanche in the first round, has won the trophy three times previously (2016, 2023, 2025).
One more Lady Byng for Kopitar would move him into a tie for third all-time alongside Red Kelly and Pavel Datsyuk. Wayne Gretzky won it five times, while Frank Boucher holds the record with seven.
Kopitar, the Kings’ franchise points leader, had just 10 penalty minutes in 67 games this season while recording 12 goals and 26 assists.
Sanderson was Ottawa’s top-scoring defenceman with 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games, logging a team-leading average ice time of 24:50 and receiving eight penalty minutes.
Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin was the last defenceman to win the Lady Byng in 2024.
The three finalists were selected by Professional Hockey Writers Association members who voted after the regular season.
–With files from The Canadian Press
