Does anyone care about the Lady Byng?

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I always get a kick of this award and most sportsmanship awards at hockey tournaments growing up...

During games there is potential you get ripped apart by the coach and media for taking a penalty, BUT if you win an award for basically not taking penalties, you are considered SOFT

 

[Mrb1p]

Scheifele is a lady bing nom?

 

[habamillions]

No. I remember martin st.louis getting into a fight last game of the season so he wouldnt win that award.

 

[DonM]

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.

There is no sense in which the "Good Guy Trophy" would ever be one of the most prestigious. The guys you listed have the reputations they do primarily because they were great, and they won. If they were still great guys but won nothing, nobody would give a shit about them. It's not a coincidence you named only players who led teams to the cup.

 

[McDNicks17]

I think it's lost it's prestige just because voters don't really care and just give it to a good player with low PIMs.

Like someone else said, it would mean a lot more if players were celebrated for doing things like Ehlers did protecting Evans.

 

[GJB]

No its basically meaningless

 

[henchman21]

When MacKinnon wins it, it has become a joke. I love MacKinnon... but he's not a Lady Byng sort of guy. Change the idea of the award away from solely being good to great player with low PIMs, and it will garner more respect and prestige.

 

[tarheelhockey]

There is no sense in which the "Good Guy Trophy" would ever be one of the most prestigious.

The NFL's most prestigious award is the Man of the Year award, which is basically their version of the King Clancy.

If the hockey world is incapable of giving prestige to the best people in the sport, perhaps that's a cultural problem for hockey.

The guys you listed have the reputations they do primarily because they were great, and they won. If they were still great guys but won nothing, nobody would give a shit about them. It's not a coincidence you named only players who led teams to the cup.

I used familiar enough examples that people would recognize them and track the similarities. I could have thrown in Clint Smith, Bill Quackenbush, and Billy Burch. But that adds nothing to the conversation.

In any case, the Byng is for "the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability", so it makes perfect sense that the winners would typically be memorable stars. That's kind of the point. It's supposed to be a player's-player trophy.

 

[njdevils1982]

Only award people care about is the Stanley Cup.

but…..but…..what about the "canada cup" for the north division?!

 

[Treb]

I had absolutely no idea William Karlsson won it a few years ago.



Did Beliveau ever win?

Only Toe Blake and Mats Naslund won it for Montreal.

 

[c9777666]

No honor in being soft.

There is no honor in taking dumb penalties

 

[Sol]

There is no honor in taking dumb penalties

Yup.

 

[Oddbob]

No.

 

[Sweetpotato]

It's an interesting award seeing the crazy low pims sometimes but nothing of consequence.

 

[woinf]

The NFL's most prestigious award is the Man of the Year award, which is basically their version of the King Clancy.

If the hockey world is incapable of giving prestige to the best people in the sport, perhaps that's a cultural problem for hockey.




I used familiar enough examples that people would recognize them and track the similarities. I could have thrown in Clint Smith, Bill Quackenbush, and Billy Burch. But that adds nothing to the conversation.

In any case, the Byng is for "the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability", so it makes perfect sense that the winners would typically be memorable stars. That's kind of the point. It's supposed to be a player's-player trophy.

Is it really? Cause I've literally never heard of that award until today.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Is it really? Cause I've literally never heard of that award until today.

The NFL itself literally calls MOTY its "most prestigious accolade".

It's not awarded on Madden, so maybe that has something to do with not hearing of it? In real life it's a fairly big deal unlike the NHL's equivalent awards.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

No honor in being soft.

You should probably have looked at the list of past winners before you posted this fake toughguy b.s.


That being said, I couldn't care less about this award.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

The NFL itself literally calls MOTY its "most prestigious accolade".

It's not awarded on Madden, so maybe that has something to do with not hearing of it? In real life it's a fairly big deal unlike the NHL's equivalent awards.

The NFL can call it whatever they want, doesn't make it true.

The most prestigious award in the NFL is The Lombardi, followed by MVP.

 

[tarheelhockey]

The NFL can call it whatever they want, doesn't make it true.

The most prestigious award in the NFL is The Lombardi, followed by MVP.

I mean obviously the championship trophy and the MVP are going to be the headliners.

There is a clear and distinct difference in the way the NFL handles its character-based recognition compared to the NHL. It’s not just the scale of the league… they actually do put more emphasis on it. That’s cultural.

 

[Rcknrollkillnmachine]

Should be re-named the 'Golden Fedora'.

 

[Joe McGrath]

I mean obviously the championship trophy and the MVP are going to be the headliners.

There is a clear and distinct difference in the way the NFL handles its character-based recognition compared to the NHL. It’s not just the scale of the league… they actually do put more emphasis on it. That’s cultural.

Past recipients of the award literally wear a patch on their jersey the rest of their career to signify it. It’s a big deal as you stated.

 

[Three On Zero]

The Stanley Cup is the only trophy that matters, the rest is just fluff

 

[GOilers88]

It's one of the oldest and most prestigious awards, but players these days can't appreciate this amazing honor. Very sad

I think fans don't appreciate it. This thread being a good example.

 

[Reaper45]

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

Butch Goring had 2 pims in 77-78. Like what? How was that even possible in that day and age of hockey?

 

[Sol]

I think fans don't appreciate it. This thread being a good example.

To appreciate it more we should create the Sir Byng for the most PIMs yearly. If we are to appreciate softness, we should also appreciate insanity.