Seattle Kraken’s rookie forward, Matty Beniers, was left out of the nominations for the prestigious Lady Byng Trophy. This award is presented to the player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Beniers’ performance this season seemed to be a perfect fit for the award, which makes his omission all the more puzzling.
In his first NHL season, the 20-year-old Beniers played in 80 games, registering 24 goals and 33 assists for a total of 57 points. What’s truly remarkable, though, is that he achieved these impressive numbers while committing only one minor penalty throughout the entire season, 2 PIMs. Incredible to play almost every game of the season and only take 1 singular penalty.
However, the finalists for this year’s Lady Byng Trophy are Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, and Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning. While all three players have had outstanding seasons, their penalty minutes are slightly higher than Beniers, but they also did produce more offensively.
The 21-year-old Hughes finished the season with 43 goals and 56 assists, totaling 99 points in 78 games, and recording 6 PIMs. Kopitar, the 35-year-old Kings’ veteran, amassed 28 goals and 46 assists for a total of 74 points in 82 games, with only 4 PIMs. Lastly, the 27-year-old Point scored 51 goals and contributed 44 assists, for a total of 95 points in 82 games, while accumulating 7 PIMs.
Beniers’ managed to have a 50+ point season all while taking only 1 penalty in his rookie season, many fans would say that he deserved to at least be in the final 3, though I will say he wouldn’t of been the winner.
