Canadiens’ Cole Caufield a finalist for NHL’s Lady Byng Trophy

The Canadiens’ Cole Caufield didn’t win the Maurice Richard Trophy this season, but he might earn the Lady Byng Trophy.

Caufield scored a career-high 51 goals this season to finish second in the NHL behind the Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon, who won the Rocket Richard Trophy for the first time in his career with 53 goals. MacKinnon also had a league-high eight empty-net goals, while Caufield had none.

The NHL announced Thursday, April 30, 2026, Caufield is one of three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, which goes to the player who “exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” John Mahoney / Montreal Gazette

The NHL announced Thursday that Caufield is one of three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy, which goes to the player who “exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” It is voted on by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The two other finalists are Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar and Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson.

Caufield, who became the first Canadien to hit the 50-goal mark since Stéphane Richer in 1989-90, finished the regular season with 51-37-88 totals in 81 games and only 14 penalty minutes, the fewest of any player in the top 25 in NHL scoring.

Kopitar, playing in his 20th and final NHL season, had 12-26-38 totals and only 10 penalty minutes in 67 games. He has already won the Lady Byng Award three times, including last season when he had 21-46-67 totals in 81 games and only four penalty minutes.

Sanderson had 14-40-54 totals in 67 games this season and only eight penalty minutes — remarkable for a defenceman — while averaging 24:50 of ice time per game to rank ninth in the NHL in that category.

Only two Canadiens have won the Lady Byng Trophy since it was first awarded after the 1924-25 season — Toe Blake in 1945-46 and Mats Naslund in 1987-88.

Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis won the Lady Byng Trophy three times during his Hall of Fame playing career.

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