The Maple Leafs centre is one of three finalists for the 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,” the National Hockey League announced on Saturday morning.
Matthews’ competition for the award are Carolina Hurricanes defenceman Jaccob Slavin and Vancouver Canucks centre Elias Pettersson.
As he scored an NHL-high 69 goals for the Leafs in 2023-24, Matthews finished sixth in NHL scoring with 107 points. In 81 games along the way, he had just 20 penalty minutes, the fewest among the NHL’s top 15 scorers.
It’s the third time Matthews has been a finalist for the Lady Byng. He was second in voting in 2019-20 and third in 2020-21.
Matthews would be the eighth different player in Leafs history to capture the award and just the second in the expansion era (since 1967-68). Alex Mogilny won it in 2002-03.
Slavin won the Lady Byng in 2020-21 and was second in voting in 2021-22. He had just eight penalty minutes in 81 games this season. That was the fewest among the NHL’s 81 skaters who played at least 1,600 minutes in 2023-24.
Pettersson had 12 penalty minutes in 82 games and is the first Lady Byng finalist in Canucks history.
Pettersson was third on Vancouver in goals (34), assists (55) and points (89), while sharing fourth place in the entire NHL with 10 game-winning goals.
The Lady Byng is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
The nominees for the Selke Trophy awarded to the NHL’s top defenceman will be announced on Sunday.
About The Author
Leave a Reply