Photo credit: NHL
NHL contributor JFresh of EPRinkside suggested that the league retire the Lady Byng Trophy and introduce a new award in honor of Johnny Gaudreau.
The Lady Byng Trophy, currently awarded to the NHL player who exhibits the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability, is voted on by the media rather than the NHL Players' Association. It is also the only major NHL award that Gaudreau won.
JFresh proposes that the NHL create a new "Gaudreau Trophy," which the players would vote on to commemorate Gaudreau's legacy. This suggestion comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed on August 29th by a suspected drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey.
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Gaudreau, a former Calgary Flames star, spent most of his career in the NHL before signing with the Columbus Blue Jackets as an unrestricted free agent. Last season, he played 81 games, tallying 12 goals and 48 assists for 60 points, with 22 penalty minutes.
The idea of retiring the Lady Byng Trophy and replacing it with an award named after Gaudreau has sparked a conversation about how the NHL should honor his memory. Whether through a new trophy or another form of recognition, this tragedy has significantly impacted the hockey community, and many believe that Gaudreau's name should be immortalized in NHL history.
