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Will Toronto Maple Leafs Goalie Jack Campbell Be First to Win Lady Byng?

By Mike Jack

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 28: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs goes through his pre-period ritual prior to the start of the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 28, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 28: Goaltender Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs goes through his pre-period ritual prior to the start of the second period against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 28, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Members of the Toronto Maple Leafs have won the NHL’s Lady Byng trophy nine times during the history of their franchise.

This season may see the emergence of a new out-of-the-box Toronto Maple Leafs candidate for one of the NHL’s most historic awards.

The Lady Byng trophy has been awarded annually since 1925 to the “player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability” as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (Wikipedia).  The only NHL individual award to be presented more times is the Hart trophy.

Alexander Mogilny became the most recent member of the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the award in 2003, but Joe Primeau, Gordie Drillon, Syl Apps, Sid Smith, Red Kelly and Dave Keon have also won the award with Smith and Keon winning it twice each.

In recent years, Auston Matthews has been at the forefront of the Lady Byng conversation as he was runner-up for the award in 2020 and was a finalist last year.  He has been top 10 in Lady Byng voting in all five of his NHL seasons, but he’s not likely to be a candidate this season after receiving a two-game suspension this year.

Can Toronto Maple Leafs, Jack Campbell, Be the First Goalie to Win the Lady Byng?

A goalie has never won the Lady Byng trophy, but there’s nothing saying a goaltender is ineligible for the award.  There is a bit of buzz circulating that Jack Campbell could be the first goalie to win the award as he seems to have established a reputation for being the nicest guy in the NHL.

Jack Campbell goes out of his way to spread sportsmanship throughout the league as you’ll see him between plays not only giving positive comments to his own teammates but also to his opponents.  When baited during interviews, Campbell only has positive comments about some of the NHL’s most notorious pests including Matthew Tkachuk and Tom Wilson.

When the Toronto Maple Leafs played the Washington Capitals earlier this month, Tom Wilson knocked Campbell over making head contact that was hard enough to rip Campbell’s mask off and send it rolling into the boards.

When asked about Wilson during the post-game interview, Campbell kindly stated, “Met him at the all-star game. Nice guy. I don’t think any harm was done by it. Love a little contact here and there,” (Sportsnet).  If that had of been anyone else, I’m sure it would have been difficult to hold in any negativity, but Campbell seemed sincere.

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Another Lady Byng candidate may be Jesper Fast of the Carolina Hurricane who has two penalties in 80 games so far this season, but in my opinion, Jack Campbell deserves the award more than anyone else for his displays of sincere sportsmanship on and off the ice.

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