Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

A sport known for being rough and tough, NHL hockey places a high value on sportsmanship — so much so that the league annually presents the Lady Byng award to the player displaying the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high level of on-ice skill. Winners are selected by a vote of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association at the end of the regular season. One of the oldest trophies in the league, the Lady Byng award list of winners is a who’s who of NHL greats.

Lady Byng Trophy — History

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has a rich history. First awarded at the conclusion of the 1925 season, the award was originally named the Lady Byng Trophy, in honor of Marie Evelyn Moreton, wife of Viscount Byng of Vimy. She was born in London in 1870, lived in India before World War I, and moved to Canada when her husband, a noble and World War I hero, was named Governor General of Canada in 1921.

Lady Byng (and her husband) were big hockey fans, attending many Ottawa Senators games. In 1925, she donated the trophy to the league, and even selected the first winner — Frank Nighbor, of the Ottawa Senators. Home ice advantage? Perhaps, but Nighbor was also the first winner of the Hart Trophy (MVP) and a 1947 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.

When Lady Byng passed away in 1949, the NHL changed the official name of the award from the Lady Byng Trophy to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy — Trivia

• Seven-time Lady Byng Trophy winner: Frank Boucher.
• Five-time winner: Wayne Gretzky.
• Four-time winners: Red Kelly, Pavel Datsyuk.
• Three-time winners: Bobby Bauer, Alex Delvecchio, Mike Bossy, Martin St. Louis, Ron Francis.
• The original Lady Byng trophy was given to Frank Boucher in 1935 after his seventh win. Lady Byng then donated a new trophy, and the league presented a new trophy once again after her passing in 1949. The original trophy was destroyed in a fire in the Boucher home in 1962.
• No goalie has ever received the Lady Byng award.
• Defenseman winners are few and far between. Bill Quackenbush did it in 1949, Red Kelly did it for the final time as a defenseman in 1954, and then Brian Campbell did it in 2012, 58 years later.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy Winners — Complete List

• 2018: William Karlsson, Vegas Golden Knights
• 2017: Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames
• 2016: Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
• 2015: Jiri Hudler, Calgary Flames
• 2014: Ryan O'Reilly, Colorado Avalanche
• 2013: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2012: Brian Campbell, Florida Panthers
• 2011: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2010: Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2009: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
• 2008: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
• 2007: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
• 2006: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
• 2004: Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning
• 2003: Alexander Mogilny, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 2002: Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes
• 2001: Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche
• 2000: Pavol Demitra, St. Louis Blues
• 1999: Wayne Gretzky, New York Rangers
• 1998: Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1997: Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1996: Paul Kariya, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• 1995: Ron Francis, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1994: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1993: Pierre Turgeon, New York Islanders
• 1992: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1991: Wayne Gretzky, Los Angeles Kings
• 1990: Brett Hull, St. Louis Blues
• 1989: Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
• 1988: Mats Naslund, Montreal Canadiens
• 1987: Joe Mullen, Calgary Flames
• 1986: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1985: Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
• 1984: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1983: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders
• 1982: Rick Middleton, Boston Bruins
• 1981: Rick Kehoe, Pittsburgh Penguins
• 1980: Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers
• 1979: Bob MacMillan, Atlanta Flames
• 1978: Butch Goring, Los Angeles Kings
• 1977: Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings
• 1976: Jean Ratelle, Boston Bruins
• 1975: Marcel Dionne, Detroit Red Wings
• 1974: Johnny Bucyk, Boston Bruins
• 1973: Gilbert Perreault, Buffalo Sabres
• 1972: Jean Ratelle, New York Rangers
• 1971: Johnny Bucyk, Boston Bruins
• 1970: Phil Goyette, St. Louis Blues
• 1969: Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1968: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1967: Stan Mikita, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1966: Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1965: Bobby Hull, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1964: Kenny Wharram, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1963: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1962: Dave Keon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1961: Red Kelly, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1960: Don McKenney, Boston Bruins
• 1959: Alex Delvecchio, Detroit Red Wings
• 1958: Camille Henry, New York Rangers
• 1957: Andy Hebenton, New York Rangers
• 1956: Earl Reibel, Detroit Red Wings
• 1955: Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1954: Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1953: Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1952: Sid Smith, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1951: Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wings
• 1950: Edgar Laprade, New York Rangers
• 1949: Bill Quackenbush, Detroit Red Wings
• 1948: Buddy O'Connor, New York Rangers
• 1947: Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
• 1946: Toe Blake, Montreal Canadiens
• 1945: Bill Mosienko, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1944: Clint Smith, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1943: Max Bentley, Chicago Blackhawks
• 1942: Syl Apps, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1941: Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
• 1940: Bobby Bauer, Boston Bruins
• 1939: Clint Smith, New York Rangers
• 1938: Gordie Drillon, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1937: Marty Barry, Detroit Red Wings
• 1936: Doc Romnes, Chicago Black Hawks
• 1935: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1934: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1933: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1932: Joe Primeau, Toronto Maple Leafs
• 1931: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1930: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1929: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1928: Frank Boucher, New York Rangers
• 1927: Billy Burch, New York Americans
• 1926: Frank Nighbor, Ottawa Senators
• 1925: Frank Nighbor, Ottawa Senators