Kings' Anze Kopitar Wins 2024-25 NHL Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Los Angeles Kings center Anže Kopitar claimed the third Lady Byng Memorial Trophy of his NHL career on Thursday after taking just two minor penalties in 81 games last season.

Kopitar's children surprised him with news of his triumph while on the course for a round of golf:

The Lady Byng is awarded annually to the player who "exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability," as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

Kopitar fit that description by recording 21 goals and 46 assists for 67 points while accruing only four penalty minutes for the second time in the past three seasons.

While anchoring the Kings' top line, the team captain ranked fourth in the NHL with 879 faceoff wins while winning 57.2 percent of his draws.

His consistency over his 19-year career with the Kings has been a key reason why Los Angeles has made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons.

With 440 career goals and 1,278 points to his credit, plus five All-Star selections, two Stanley Cup wins and two Selke Trophies, Kopitar is strong candidate to one day be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Kopitar previously took home the Lady Byng in 2016 and 2023. He is the fourth Kings player to win the award, alongside Wayne Gretzky, Butch Goring and Marcel Dionne. Kopitar and Gretzky are the only Kings players to have claimed the honor three times.

He beat out the Vegas Golden Knights' Jack Eichel and Tampa Bay Lightning's Brayden Point to win his third Lady Byng.