The National Hockey League announced the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalists on Saturday, May 4th, followed by the announcement of the Frank J. Selke Trophy finalists on Sunday, May 5th.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Elias Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks, and Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes were named finalists of the 2024 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
This award goes to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Matthews led the NHL with 69 goals and was sixth with his career-high 107 points in 81 games. The Toronto Maple Leafs center posted a plus-minus of plus-31 and averaged 20:58 TOI per game. His six penalties all season, 20 penalty minutes and five minor penalties were the fewest among the NHL’s top 15 scorers. Matthews, who’s a third-time finalist in the past five seasons (2019-20 and 2020-21) propelled Toronto to their eighth consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance.
Pettersson fell third on the Vancouver Canucks for goals (34) and points (89) playing 82 games this season. The Canucks center led all forwards in TOI per game with 19:39 and played on both special teams units all season. Pettersson took just six minor penalties all season and has never had more than 18 penalty minutes in his six NHL seasons. Petter is a first-time finalist and would become the first Vancouver Canuck to win the award.
Slavin accumulated 20:56 TOI per game and was first on the Carolina Hurricanes in short-handed time per game with an average of 2:38. The defenseman had 37 points (6G, 31A) in 81 games and only took four minor penalties all season. Slavin accumulated just 10 penalty minutes or fewer for the fifth time in his NHL career. This is Jaccob Slavin’s fourth nomination in the past five seasons, he won the award in 2020-21 and was the runner-up in 2021-22.
Los Angeles Kings center and captain Anze Kopitar won the Lady Byng trophy in 2022-23.
Frank J. Selke Trophy
Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jordan Staal of the Carolina Hurricanes were named finalists of the 2024 Frank J. Selke Trophy.
This award is given to the player who is voted best to excel in the defensive aspects of the game and the NHL.
Barkov was a dominant two-way center yet again for the Florida Panthers. The Panthers captain has become a finalist for the Selke for the fourth time in his past five seasons where he won the award in 2020-21 and finished third in 2021-22. Barkov helped put the Panthers’ defensive game on his back as they locked down their game-clinching another berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Barkov remains hopeful the team can return to the Stanley Cup Final this year.
While Matthews is more well-known for his goal-scoring, he also excels in the defensive aspects of the game. This makes him an incredible threat at all ends of the ice and truly a special player to witness. The Leafs franchise player racked up 57:44 of short-handed ice time this season and posted a plus-minus of plus-31. His 93 blocked shots and 85 takeaways ranked second in the NHL among all forwards. Matthews is also a Lady Byng finalist this year and is a first-time finalist for the Selke. If Matthews wins the 2024 Selke, he would become the first Maple Leafs player since Doug Gilmour (1992-93) to win the award.
Staal recorded 30 points (10G, 20A) in 80 games for the Carolina Hurricanes this season where he also recorded 15:23 TOI and 2:07 short-handed ice time per game. His short-handed ice time was the most among Carolina’s forwards. The center was tied for short-handed points with four and tied for the Hurricanes’ lead in hits with 142. Staal would become the first Carolina Hurricanes player to win the Selke since current coach Rod Brind’Amour won it in 2006-07.
Retired Boston Bruins center and former captain Patrice Bergeron won the Frank J. Selke in 2022-23.
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