Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon named Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist
Article by Minnesota Wild @mnwild / Wild.com
ST. PAUL -- The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon is a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is presented annually to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.
Spurgeon, 31, tallied 25 points (7-18=25) in 54 games with the Wild this season and added three assists in seven Stanley Cup Playoff games. He led the team in blocked shots (102, T-15th in the NHL), ranked third in power-play points (9) and fourth in shots on goal (94) while leading team defensemen in scoring and assists. Spurgeon recorded his 300th career NHL point with an assist vs. St. Louis (4/29) to become the eighth player and second defenseman in team history to reach the milestone. He played in his 700th career NHL game vs. St. Louis (4/28) to become the third player and second defenseman in team history to reach the milestone. Spurgeon was named the second captain in team history on January 3, 2021.
He has collected 305 points (89-216=305), 120 penalty minutes and a plus-48 rating in 707 career games during 11 seasons with Minnesota. Spurgeon owns the fewest penalty minutes among active defensemen, and is tied for the third fewest penalties among all active NHL players that have played in at least 600 games since entering the League in 2010-11. Since 2015-16, he ranks 12th in blocked shots (773) and 14th in goals (63) among NHL defensemen. Spurgeon is the second player in team history to be named a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist (Mikael Granlund, 2017).
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin are the other finalists for the 2020-21 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy after the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winners of the 2021 NHL Awards presented by Bridgestone will be revealed during the Stanley Cup Semifinals and Stanley Cup Final, with exact dates, format and times to be announced.
Lady Byng, wife of Canada's Governor General at the time, presented the Lady Byng Trophy during the 1924-25 season. After Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers won the award seven times in eight seasons, he was given the trophy to keep and Lady Byng donated another trophy in 1936. After Lady Byng's death in 1949, the NHL presented a new trophy, changing the name to the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
