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Caufield, Sanderson and Kopitar named finalists for 2025-26 Lady Byng Trophy

Caufield, Sanderson and Kopitar named finalists for 2025-26 Lady Byng Trophy | iNFOnews.ca
Montreal Canadiens' Cole Caufield (13) scores on Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) during third period NHL hockey action, in Montreal on Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

NEW YORK — Montreal Canadiens right-wing Cole Caufield, Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson and Los Angeles Kings centre Anze Kopitar are the finalists for the 2025-26 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

The NHL announced the finalists Thursday for the award given annually to the player voted the best at combining sportsmanship with playing ability.

Caufield led the Canadiens with 51 goals, becoming Montreal’s first 50-goal scorer in 36 years, while taking 14 penalty minutes.

Sanderson was Ottawa’s top-scoring defenceman with 14 goals and 40 assists in 67 games, logging a team-leading average ice time of 24:50 and receiving eight penalty minutes.

Kopitar, in his 20th and final NHL season, recorded 38 points with a plus-19 defensive rating and recorded 10 penalty minutes in 67 games.

Caufield and Sanderson are first-time finalists. Kopitar has won the award on three previous occasions, including last season.

The three finalists were selected by Professional Hockey Writers Association members who voted after the regular season.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2026.

Caufield, Sanderson and Kopitar named finalists for 2025-26 Lady Byng Trophy | iNFOnews.ca
Ottawa Senators’ Jake Sanderson (85) gathers in the puck with goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) and Carolina Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis (24) nearby during the first period of an Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Caufield, Sanderson and Kopitar named finalists for 2025-26 Lady Byng Trophy | iNFOnews.ca
After the final game of his career, Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, centre, waves to the fans following Game 4 in the first round of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, April 26, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Scott Strazzante)

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The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.

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