Winnipeg Jets winger Kyle Connor is the winner of the 2022 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
The award is given to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," according to the NHL. It was first awarded in 1924-25, and has been ever since, aside from the canceled season in 2004-05.
Connor wins it after a career year with the Jets this season. He set career highs in goals with 47, assists with 46, and points with 93, after previous highs of 38 goals, 35 assists, and 73 points in 2019-20. More relevant to the Lady Byng, he finished the season with just four penalty minutes, tied for a career-low, but coming in 59 more games. He was one of three players to have fewer than 10 penalty minutes in at least 20 minutes of ice time per game this season.
Connor finished with 181 total votes for the award, including 122 first-place votes. He beat out Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon for the award. He is the first player in Jets/Atlanta Thrashers history to win the award, and even the first Jets player to win it dating back to the previous franchise in Winnipeg that eventually moved to Phoenix.
Connor was presented the award by Lucie and Tanya Bossy, wife and daughter of Mike Bossy, who was a three-time winner of the award.
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