NHL Announce the Nominees for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

The National Hockey League announced the nominees for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Saturday. 

The top three vote getters are Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, Loui Eriksson of the Boston Bruins and Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings. The winner will be announced during the 2016 NHL Awards, at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 22.

The Lady Byng Trophy is presented to the player that demonstrates the most sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. 

Kopitar, is also nominated for the Selke Trophy, presented to the top defensive forward. In 81 games this season, he led the Kings with 74 points and was second in the league with a plus-34 rating. He had only 16 penalty minutes while averaging 20:52 minutes of ice time per game. 

Last season he finished third in the voting for the Lady Byng. The last Kings player to win the Lady Byng was Wayne Gretzky, who won it 1994. 

Barkov, had an NHL career best in goals with 28, assists with 31 and points with 59 during this past season. In 66 games, Barkov only had eight penalty minutes. He becomes the first Panther to be a finalist for the Lady Byng, since Brian Campbell won the award in 2012.

Eriksson, is a finalist for the second time in his career. In 2011, he finished third in the voting. This past season, he put up 30 goals and 63 points, while only spending 12 minutes the sinbin in 82 games during 2015-2016. The last Bruins player to win the Lady Byng was back in 1982, when Rick Middleton won the award.