Upon Further Review

The Lady Byng trophy should be given to Defencemen too it's been a long time since that has happened. Why not Lidstrom? Forget fighting you can be a good sportsman and fight. Remember Gretzky had 1 fight in his career. Don't forget Stan Mikita he cleaned up his act and won the Byng why not award it to a player who dramatically reduced his penalty minutes.

As someone who thinks that fighting should not be rewarded, I've gotta disagree. The intent of the trophy originally was to honor Frank Nighbor of the Sens who was an outstanding player who did not resort to the cheap shots of the time, which was much more violent. I think Lady Byng's intent was to promote play within the rules, without illegal violence. Fighters should be immediately ineligible. Letting the refs pick would probably be a good idea.

Why all this concern about the Byng? Let it remain what it has been - a meaningless trophy. It seems to me you might be trying to change the criteria so that a Canadian wins it though.

It's a good idea. The points about the low PIM totals reflecting a possible perimeter player and the players not taking pride in winning the trophy are correct. Why not rename it the Lady Byng / Gordie Howe trophy? Then give it to Jarome. People would understand the change.

Iginla is a dirty player. Cross check on Schneider in Game 5 of playoffs last year is a prime example of his style of play. He's a great player who plays very well when things are going his way. But when he's losing, Iginla loses his composure and forgets his first two priorities are play hockey and lead. Leadership and sportsmanship are not found in losing your temper and later hiding behind "trying to spark" your team. The reason why you don't want your best player fighting is because you very likely want him on the ice. Poor play makes him angry which makes him stupid so he gets into fights because he wants to get off the ice...and that's not a team player let alone a leader. Ovechkin is a better player, MVP, leads by example, big hitter, and actually extols all the qualities that you've attributed to Iginla. Full disclosure: I'm a wings fan living in DC.

Iginla? he is a goon. remember the end of game 5 vs detroit last season. He butt ended a wing and was running around punching others in the back of the head. i guess he was just "sending a message".

Granted, there has been an over emphasis on the PIM's in judging for the award over the years. But the criterion for the award as written leaves enough latitude to still award a recipient who may have accumulated some significant penalty minutes. Stan Mikita won the award, and he was no shrinking violet. All awards have had flawed choices for winners from time to time. I recall Ted Williams lost a few MVP's (some during Triple Crown Seasons) because, in one instance his home town reporter did not include him in the top 10 for the league on his ballot. Clearly, Mr. Williams and this reporter did not see eye to eye. This is the exact same reason why referees should never, ever vote for an award. On the battlefield, numerous players have made harsh comments to referees. Referees are human, and some may be compelled to hold a grudge and not vote for a deserving player.

Good article but I disagree with some parts. I think there should be an award for the honorable player but the Lady Byng awards someone for that same honorable play while receiving few penalties. You said "when I see abnormally low penalty minutes I become suspicious of that player’s competition level". With exceptions, I understand, but Pavel Datsyuk has won this award for the past two years, and before him guys like Richards, Kariya, Sakic, Francis, Gretzky, Bossy, and many, many more. Are you suspicious of their competition level? To think that these players aren't playing at an extremely high level is ludacris. While I agree Iggy, Thorton and Shanahan are great players in their own right but not Lady Byng winners. Didn't Iginla punch a guy in the back of the head with his glove on at the end of a playoff game? Players make mistakes, I understand but there is nothing honorable about that. His gritty style of hockey is a thing of beauty but he is not Lady Byng in my opinion.

Good idea - and it would also be a way to include them in the process as a means to honour their hard work.

Matt wrote: "Well said. I've written about this before: I think an simple and elegant way to accomplish a lot of this is to take the vote from the PHWA and give it to the referees."

I agree completely with this article. While many scorers and playmakers rack up points without tallying many penalty minutes, attitude and sportsmanship should be a larger factor. Jarome Iginla, who should be the league MVP this year, I also think is deserving of this award. Iginla is the best power forward in the league, he gets the job done game in and game out, and does so against the boards, with 2 defencemen mugging him constantly. His style of play is to keep going and going all the time, never takes a dive, and just rarely takes stupid pentalties for slashing or obstruction with his hockey stick. Iginla does get into scraps, but the respect he shows during the scraps when going at it with respectable players is commendable. Iginla's fight this year against Jovanovski is a prime example, both players were battleing hard against each other all game, and it was time to get some fustration out while motivating their fans and teammates. Both players dropped the gloves, and allowed each other to remove their helmets, before the fight. After the fight, both players gave each other a tap on the back, and skated to the penalty box. Playing inside the unwritten codes of conduct for the NHL is exactly what Iginla's play examplifies.

I agree wholeheartedly with Matt from Calgary; let the referees vote to award the Lady Byng. Like the article mentions, this trophy isn't really coveted by players. I think the idea of letting the officials--who see the players day-in and day-out, and know who the true sportsmen of the game are--make the call, has true merit. It would be a good way to redeem what has always been the least macho award given by the league. It would also give fans even better insight to who the true heros of the game are.

Making the refs decide who gets the Lady Byng is an EXCELLENT idea! I think the PHWA would feel slighted, though. Maybe there should be a split voting process where both the refs and the PHWA can vote.

Well said. I've written about this before: I think an simple and elegant way to accomplish a lot of this is to take the vote from the PHWA and give it to the referees. They have (or at least ought to have) the best sense of who the whiners and divers are; who battles hard without looking to take advantage of opponents in vulnerable positions; who has respect for the officials, the opponents, the game.

They also see all the players in the league live, many times, unlike the writers. And finally, since it's the only award they would vote on (rather than it being 1 of 6 or whatever that the PHWA votes on), there might be a bit more care and conscience put into their votes.

Based on the criteria you mention, Shanahan would be the guy from your list that I would pick. If you don't respect him after taking on Brashear last year you don't understand hockey.

Ah yes, the Lady Byng Memorial trophy...The red-headed step-child of the NHL awards. This is something I've always wondered the same points you're raising myself. Why should someone win the award just because they don't get the PIMs. I would even take it one step further and re-up the award as the Don Cherry Trophy and have it awarded to a player who best exemplifies hard work, honest sportmanlike conduct and not necessarily a foighter, but a player who can show the dynamic offense with he ruggedness of the game. The Scott Walker's of the world, the Shanny's, Iggy's and Vinny's included.

Good article.

I agree that a re-thinking of the criteria for Lady Byng is appropriate, and your assessment of what those criteria should be is very good.