Johnny Gaudreau wins Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Johnny Hockey has added to his trophy case. At the annual National Hockey League awards event in Las Vegas, Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau was named this season’s recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Awarded to the player judged to combine a high level of play with gentlemanly conduct, the honour is decided by a vote of the membership of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Gaudreau, 23, had a pretty tumultuous first half of the season. He missed all of training camp due to his prolonged contract negotiation with the Flames, then didn’t really get out to a good start. He finally seemed to get his game going by mid-November, only to be miss 10 games due to breaking a finger due to repeated slashes in a game against Minnesota – and if we’re being honest, Gaudreau faced those hacks to the hands all season long. He then went on to finish the season strong, ending with 61 points in 72 games.

Despite playing a ton and taking a ton of abuse, Gaudreau never went loco and seemed to largely keep his cool. He only had four penalty minutes this season. Gaudreau was the runaway winner of the award this season and previously finished fourth (in 2015-16) and 17th (in 2014-15) during his first two years in the league.

Gaudreau joins former Flames Jiri Hudler (2014-15), Joey Mullen (1986-87, 1988-89) and Bob MacMillan (1978-79) in winning the Lady Byng.

What a nice boy.