Los Angeles Kings star Anze Kopitar has secured the Lady Byng Trophy for the third time in his career, adding to his previous wins in the 2015-16 and 2022-23 seasons. This accolade, awarded annually for outstanding gentlemanly conduct combined with high playing ability, places Kopitar among an elite group as only the 10th player in NHL history to claim the trophy three times. His consistent discipline and respect on the ice were key to this achievement, which highlights the importance of sportsmanship in hockey.
Calls to Reform Voting Process for Gentlemanly Conduct Award
Following Kopitar’s latest win, NHL insider Greg Wyshynski, during a discussion on The Sheet with Jeff Marek podcast, advocated for a significant change in how the Lady Byng Trophy winner is selected. At present, the Professional Hockey Writers Association votes on the award, but Wyshynski criticized this method for focusing too heavily on quantifiable statistics like points scored and penalty minutes rather than true assessments of gentlemanly play.
“The Professional Hockey Writers Association has turned the Lady Bing voting into who has the most points and the fewest penalty minutes. We don’t know any, we don’t know how to assess gentlemanly play on the ice,” he said. —Greg Wyshynski, NHL insider
Wyshynski suggested that referees and on-ice officials are better positioned to evaluate players’ conduct, since they witness firsthand how players manage themselves during games.
“We know who’s nice to us in the locker room after the game, but we sure don’t know who’s nice on the ice. The only people who do are the players who simply can’t be bothered with having to vote on awards because they’ll just vote for their buddies, or the on-ice officials who should vote for something that assesses gentlemanly play on the ice,” Wyshynski added. —Greg Wyshynski, NHL insider
Anze Kopitar Reflects on His Lady Byng Victory and Playing Style
This season, Kopitar committed just two minor penalties, a testament to his disciplined approach. After receiving the trophy in an unexpected moment during a family golf outing, Kopitar expressed his appreciation for the honor and described what the award signifies to him personally.
“Two [penalties] this year, I think. But well earned,” Kopitar said. “I thought it was going to just be a friendly 10 holes of golf with family golf and then a little bit of lunch, so this was a very pleasant surprise when the kids brought it out on the ninth green.” —Anze Kopitar, LA Kings player
“To me, it just means being so-called a gentleman. Hockey is a physical sport but within those parameters, I think there’s obviously room, I guess a gentleman, a good guy, having respect toward your peers, toward the officials. Just carry yourself in a way to where kids look at you, young kids look at you, what you do on the ice,” he added. —Anze Kopitar, LA Kings player
Kopitar’s Performance and Career Highlights
Anze Kopitar was drafted 11th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 NHL Draft. In the recent season, he contributed 67 points, consisting of 21 goals and 46 assists across 81 games. His playoff performance included nine points, with two goals and seven assists over six games, further showcasing his consistent impact on the ice.
Implications for Future Voting and NHL Traditions
As Kopitar’s third Lady Byng Trophy cements his legacy as a model of gentlemanly conduct in the NHL, the debate over voting procedures could lead to changes in how players are evaluated for this award. If on-ice officials take on voting responsibilities, the assessment of sportsmanship may become more nuanced and grounded in direct observation rather than statistics alone. This shift could influence how the league recognizes player behavior and uphold the spirit of fair play in professional hockey moving forward.