Why is the Lady Byng trophy only for forwards?

[Bee Sheriff]

Off topic to OP but in response to a lot of the posters: it's not only about PIMs

 

[LeafsNation75]

I never understood why Tomáš Kaberle wasn't even a finalist in 2001/02. 39 points in 69 games played and only 2 PIMs.

I remember Joe Bowen mentioning that during several games that season.

 

[DFF]

Because you really dont want your dman to be a "Lady Byng"

 

[Eisen]

Defensemen in general have to play a more physical style. That can be confused with playing dirty sometimes.

Either way, the award is a joke anyway. Essentially, its a "who's the softest player" award.

This is a misconception. Just because a player doesn't rough others up, doesn't mean that he is soft.

 

[Henkka]

Nicklas Lidström would have won 10 Lady Byngs, if it would have been for a defenceman.

 

[space321]

Because you really dont want your dman to be a "Lady Byng"

Oh yah, gotta have that truculence, grit, heart and soul player. Block shots all day and throw those monstrous hits y'know?

Nah, I'll keep Brodin thank you very much. I'd rather have a Dman who's able to skate the puck out of his end and uses his stick for takeaways rather than a guy who blocks shots because he can't control the puck or get it out of his zone with a pass.

 

[MarkGio]

I'd take it one step further and argue its harder for defensemen to avoid penalties.

Most top pairing defensemen eat more minutes than top forwards. They also have jobs of clearing the crease, rubbing forwards off the puck, and are the ones defending down low cycles. Any defenseman with 10 PIMs who played a full season is equivalent to a forwards with 2 PIMs.