2009-2010 Winner: Anze Kopitar (LA Kings)Lady Byng, wife of Canada's Governor-General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy in 1925. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng's death in 1949, the National Hockey League presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
The trophy is an annual award given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
2010-2011 Winner: Anze Kopitar (Pittsburgh Penguins)
2011-2012 Winner: Phil Kessel (Boston Bruins)
2012-2013 Winner: Thomas Vanek (Buffalo Sabres)
2013-2014 Winner: Anze Kopitar (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Past votes:
2010: Kopitar wins with 11 votes, 84 points and 16 PIM in 82 GP. Alex Ovechkin (WAS, 4 votes) and Martin St. Louis (TB, 3 votes) finished 2nd and 3rd.
2011: Kopitar repeats with 7 votes, 66 points and only 12 PIM despite throwing 168 hits in 82 GP. Paul Ranger (TB) and Mikko Koivu (CAR) tied with 3 votes each.
2012: Kessel earns 11 1st-place votes and 35 votes total, with 84 points, 12 PIM and an absurd 75% faceoff % in 82 games. Jason Pominville (BUF, 2 1sts, 16 points) and Jonathon Blum (NSH, 1st, 15 points) trailed.
2013: Vanek wins with just 3 1st-place votes and 13 votes, with 81 points and 12 PIM in 82 GP despite 219 hits. Jonathan Huberdeau (WPG, 2 1sts and 13 votes) and Colby Cohen (MTL, 4 1sts and 12 votes) were narrowly beaten, despite Cohen earning the most 1st place votes.
2014: Kopitar earns a solid win with 83 points, 10 PIM, +38 and 215 hits, meriting his 21 voting points (5 first place). Teammate and defenseman Jonathan Blum (PIT, 3 1sts, 13 pts) and Jordan Eberle (EDM, 2 1sts, 8 pts) came in 2nd and 3rd.