Just some history.
- It's called the "Lady Byng Memorial Trophy" not to sound feminine , but that's the title of the person that donated it in 1925, Lady Evelyn Byng, wife of Governor General Byng.
The letter she wrote to Frank Calder when she donated it...
“Feeling a great desire to help your effort to ‘clean hockey’ and eliminate the needless rough play that at present is a threat to the game, and also to leave a tangible record of the enjoyment I personally have had from the game during our sojourn in Canada, I am writing to ask if you will let me offer a challenge cup for the man on any team in the league who, while being thoroughly effective, is also a thoroughly clean player.
“I am convinced that the public desires good sport, not the injuring of players, and if by donating this challenge cup I can in any way help towards this end it will give me a great deal of pleasure.
“(Signed) Evelyn Byng of Vimy.”
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It looks like Lady Evelyn Byng saw a violence problem in the game and thought by having an award it might change the way the players play the game. Little did she know how it would turn out. So yeah, this award is out of place with what the NHL has tried to sell for the last 90 years, and actually goes out of it's way to promote.