Does anyone care about the Lady Byng?

[sdf]

I would ask why it called Lady, but yes, i dont care

 

[sdf]

The "Byng" part is also unclear

 

[BostonBob]

I forget that it exists every year ...

Sounds like dementia might be kicking in.

 

[Esko6]

The trophy has a long history and fantastic players have won it, I like it and I care. It is a bit of consolation prize of course, but you really have to be pretty good to win it.

The only NHL awards that I don't understand at all is the E. J. McGuire award.

 

[sdf]

Sounds as if it is troffie for ladyes

 

[Chet Manley]

A better award would be for highest penalty drawn to taken ratio. But we would need a new and subjective stat for that.

 

[sparxx87]

Being recognized as the most gentle hockey player isn’t what most guys are trying for.

 

[Buck Naked]

Few penalties = sportsmanship is what's wrong with this award. Taking some penalties during a season does not mean that you're not a player who exemplifies what this award should be all about. It's also complete bs that it's voted on by the media.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Sportsmanship, legal play, + talent. Only in the NHL would an award given for those attributes be constantly mocked. Probably should be the most prestigious honor.

My Best-Carey

The NHL is the only sport that gives out that type of award. And it's the league with the least sportsmanship.

 

[Svechhammer]

Not really familiar with the slate of awards in other major sports - is there an equivalent in any other major sports?

NFL - Walter Payton Man of the Year

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Maybe call it the fair play award or something like that.

The least cared about trophy in hockey, almost like a participation ribbon.

 

[Beville]

Panel Datsyuk joins the conversation.

 

[joestevens29]

I found it impressive when ROR won it. 2 PIM all year is something that has stuck with me. Other than that ya I don't know that I care too much about the award

 

[dr robbie]

Honest question: was this trophy important historically to players? I've only followed the NHL since the last 80s, but it was never an award that anyone really seemed to care about.

I personally don't care about the award. Not sure if the players do either. Not because I don't care about sportsmanship, but the idea that less PIMs = greater sportsmanship is dumb. I'd rather it be based on events like what Ehlers did during the Evans hit where he tried to get the scrum off the injured player. That's sportsmanship. If the award went towards people that had multiple events like that during a season, I'd be more inclined to care about it.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

The "Byng" part is also unclear

Viscount Byng was a famous hero of WW1. He commanded troops in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, an allied victory spearheaded by Canadian troops. After the war he was made Governor General of Canada. Vimy's importance for creating a Canadian national identity has been debated, but it had an important effect, both contemporaneously, and in the latter half of the 20th century.

His wife Lady Byng (Baroness Byng at the time of the awards creation), is owed a debt for making organized hockey a success. Her patronage of the sport lent credibility and approval from the upper crust. Similar to how Christy Mathewson made baseball legitimate and respectable.

Lord Byng is also responsible for changing the future of the Commonwealth, particularly the Crown's relationship to the governments of those realms; but that's another story, for another day.

 

[SnuggaRUDE]

Honest question: was this trophy important historically to players? I've only followed the NHL since the last 80s, but it was never an award that anyone really seemed to care about.

I personally don't care about the award. Not sure if the players do either. Not because I don't care about sportsmanship, but the idea that less PIMs = greater sportsmanship is dumb. I'd rather it be based on events like what Ehlers did during the Evans hit where he tried to get the scrum off the injured player. That's sportsmanship. If the award went towards people that had multiple events like that during a season, I'd be more inclined to care about it.

Yes, in the era it was created sportsmanship was quite important. These are all intertwined with the British influence on Canada and generally sports in the West. Being seen as a gentlemen was important, and Lady Byng who's position in society no longer exactly exists, but would be close to as prominent as the wife of the PM, shared her and her husband's prestige by promoting hockey and honoring players.

Your position re: Ehlers is probably closer to the historic intent of the award.

 

[Bandit]

Hard to believe in this day & age I'm sure, but not being a dickhead is still a valuable quality to some people.

 

[tarheelhockey]

It's a real shame that it isn't more appreciated.

If they were doing it right, this would be one of the most prestigious awards in the league. It's basically the Good Guy Trophy. Someone who works hard, is a good leader, plays a clean (not soft) game, is a star player in his own right... someone who embodies what a hockey player should be. Think Pavel Datsyuk, Patrice Bergeron, Joe Sakic, Jean Beliveau.

Getting added to that category should be a highlight of a player's career. Instead the PHWA turns it into a PIM award. They've utterly missed the point of what it's supposed to be.

 

[Ceremony]

No honor in being soft.

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy - Wikipedia

Good point, no honour in being Joe Sakic, or Pavel Datsyuk, or Ron Francis, or Wayne Gretzky, or Mike Bossy, or Marcel Dionne, or Jean Ratelle, or Stan Mikita, or Dave Keon, or Red Kelly, or Jean Believeau. Who'd want floaters like that on their team?

 

[HabsQC]

They should award the "Lady Ping" for most posts hit in a season

 

[SpezDispenser]

Not even a little bit. All 3 could be Senators and I still wouldn't care.

 

[Sol]

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy - Wikipedia

Good point, no honour in being Joe Sakic, or Pavel Datsyuk, or Ron Francis, or Wayne Gretzky, or Mike Bossy, or Marcel Dionne, or Jean Ratelle, or Stan Mikita, or Dave Keon, or Red Kelly, or Jean Believeau. Who'd want floaters like that on their team?

That's a question you should answer since you're insinuating that being soft means you're talentless.

 

[ManofSteel55]

Sportsmanship, legal play, + talent. Only in the NHL would an award given for those attributes be constantly mocked. Probably should be the most prestigious honor.

My Best-Carey

Naming an award for gentlemanly play the "Lady" anything award doomed this award to being a mockery.

 

[cc]

I appreciate the somewhat violent and edgy aspects of hockey and the players that play that style, but I also appreciate the players that don't hurt their team by taking stupid penalties.

Players of that ilk can become true ambassadors of the game

 

[Eisen]

Yes I do. It's pretty much what sport should be all about. That's it's not held in high regard is a testament to what is wrong with sports.