Anze Kopitar, Cole Caufield Headline 2025-26 NHL Lady Byng Trophy Finalists

Recently retired Los Angeles Kings forward Anže Kopitar was one of three players named as finalists for the NHL's 2025-26 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy on Thursday.

Kopitar is joined by Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield and Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson.

The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is given annually "to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability."

Kopitar, 38, announced his retirement following the Kings' first-round playoff elimination at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

The Slovenian star spent his entire 20-year NHL career with the Kings, registering 452 goals and 864 assists for 1,316 points in 1,521 career games.

Kopitar was also a five-time All-Star, two-time Stanley Cup winner and two-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, giving him what is likely a Hall-of-Fame-worthy résumé.

On top of that, Kopitar is already a three-time Lady Byng winner, including last season, and he has a strong chance to make it four after recording 38 points and just 10 penalty minutes in 67 games this season.

Kopitar's greatest competition for the Lady Byng may be Caufield, who enjoyed a career year in 2025-26.

The 25-year-old winger finished with a career-high 88 points and his 51 goals were second only to Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who led the league with 53.

Additionally, the 5'8" dynamo was assessed only 14 penalty minutes in 81 regular-season contests.

The only defenseman to be named a finalist is Sanderson, who delivered another fine season in his fourth year as an NHL player.

In 67 games for the Sens, Sanderson set a new career high with 14 goals and added 40 assists for 54 points, while only accruing eight penalty minutes.

A Lady Byng Memorial Trophy would cap a dream season for Sanderson, who was part of Team USA's gold medal squad at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Over the past 13 seasons, the Lady Byng has been won by a defenseman only twice with Jaccob Slavin of the Carolina Hurricanes securing the hardware on both occasions.