Canadiens’ Cole Caufield wins 2026 Lady Byng Trophy
The National Hockey League announced Friday that Montreal Canadiens’ forward Cole Caufield has been awarded the 2026 Lady Byng Trophy.
Cole Caufield is a Lady Byng winner! 🚨 #NHLAwards The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 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.
According to the NHL, “the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy 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.”
The Canadiens’ forward finished with 45 first-place votes, with Los Angeles Kings’ captain Anze Kopitar ranking second with 38 first-place votes and Ottawa Senators’ defenseman Jake Sanderson finishing with 28.
Cole Caufield had the fewest penalty minutes among the NHL’s top 45 goal scorers (tied) and finished with the second-most go-ahead goals (29) in League history behind Brett Hull (39 in 1990-91). #NHLStats #NHLAwards
Caufield, 25, had one of the best regular seasons in modern Canadiens’ history, becoming the first player to score 50 goals in a single campaign since Stephane Richer did so in 1989-90.
He finished the regular season with 51 goals and 37 assists for 88 points. In the playoffs, he recorded six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 19 games, helping Montreal reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Through parts of six NHL seasons, the Stevens Point, Wisc., native has 169 goals and 138 assists for 307 points in 368 career regular-season games.
Caufield, taken No. 15 overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, spent two seasons playing college hockey with the University of Wisconsin. In 2020-21, he led the NCAA with 30 goals and 52 points in just 31 games, going on to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in the country.
After his historic sophomore campaign, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract and joined the Canadiens in time for their deep playoff run.
Internationally, Caufield represented the U.S. twice at the World Junior Championships, helping them win gold in 2021. He was also part of the U.S. World Championship squad in 2024.