Anže Kopitar’s career might have just come to a close, but the accolades continued arriving as the Kings’ captain was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Thursday.
It’s awarded each season “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
Kopitar finished in the top 10 in voting in 11 instances during his 20-year career. He’s now been a finalist on five occasions and garnered the honor outright three times.
He’s one of only 10 players in the award’s 101-year history to have been a recipient in three or more years. A fourth win would put him in even more exclusive company with only Pavel Datsyuk (four), Red Kelly (four), Wayne Gretzky (five, three as a King) and Frank Boucher (seven).
The trophy has produced mixed emotions in different figures over time. Former Boston Bruins coach Don Cherry once boasted that he didn’t have any Lady Byng candidates in his locker room. Chicago Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita averaged more than 100 penalty minutes in his first five seasons, but became a two-time Lady Byng winner after his daughter asked why he spent so much of the game in the sin bin.
“It just fits my personality, really. I’ve never been a rah-rah guy or a goon, if you will. I let my play do the talking and I’ve always been known as a skill guy. You try to make your mark that way,” Kopitar said. “There’s a mix and a good combo of the more rugged guys and those of us that are on the calm side of things. I like to be on the ice, not in the penalty box.”
This season, Kopitar had 10 penalty minutes and tied for 23rd in fewest penalties taken per 60 minutes, despite using his formidable size, strength and defensive acumen centrally in his game.
The other finalists are Montreal Canadiens sniper Cole Caufield and Ottawa Senators blue-liner Jake Sanderson. The statistical case for Sanderson might be the strongest, as his .14 penalties taken per 60 minutes tied for sixth in the NHL despite his being an adept No. 1 defenseman with heavy responsibility in terms of minutes and defensive load.
