NHL Reveals Finalists for 2020 Lady Byng, Bill Masterton Memorial Trophies

Before the NHL resumes the 2019-20 campaign Aug. 1, the league announced the finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy and Masterton Trophy on Thursday:

While the list of players features some elite talent, these two honors go beyond just skill on the ice.

The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded to the player who exhibits "sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and ability." The Masterton Trophy goes to the player who showcases "perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey."

Ryan O'Reilly won the Lady Byng in 2013-14 and is a four-time finalist for the award.

Though O'Reilly earned plenty of hardware last season, picking up the Conn Smythe Award as the playoff MVP and Frank Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward alongside the Stanley Cup, he acknowledged the honor of the Lady Byng, per the St. Louis Blues' team site:

"It's amazing to be nominated for the Lady Byng. (There's some) great company there with MacKinnon and Matthews, incredible players. It's a special thing. For myself, I take a lot of pride to be able to impact the game and also be respected in it, stay out of the box and be respected that way. (I can) be one that's respected by refs and feel like whenever guys are freaking out, I can kind of be a calm voice there.

"To be recognized for that is an amazing thing."

The 29-year-old had only 10 penalty minutes this season and hasn't had more than 12 PIM in any of the past nine seasons.

Nathan MacKinnon (12 PIM) and Auston Matthews (eight PIM) also excelled at staying out of the penalty box. With 93 points in 69 games this season, MacKinnon is also a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award as the top player as voted by his peers.

The Masterton finalists were all forced to miss time because of a variety of reasons.

Oskar Lindblom was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, and supported his Philadelphia Flyers while undergoing chemotherapy. Stephen Johns returned to the ice in January for the Dallas Stars after missing nearly two years because of post-traumatic headaches. Bobby Ryan stepped away from the sport in November to recover from alcohol abuse and returned to the Ottawa Senators for eight games before the NHL season was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.