Last year was a banner year for Ryan O’Reilly in the awards category. Along with winning the Conn Smythe for the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs, he also won the Frank J. Selke Trophy last season for best defensive forward.
This year’s NHL Award nominees are being released on a day-by-day basis, and today’s announcement of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy includes O’Reilly as a finalist, along with Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. The Lady Byng is awarded “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.