I just think the award doesn't get the respect it deserves. Maybe that's just my perception. I admire Byng winners and truly admire those with high skill and sportsmanship. If you ever brought a Byng win as support into the inevitable who's better than who arguments you'd probably get laughed at. I don't know if that's right.
My Best-Carey
Well, interesting comparable with crossover criteria to the Lady Byng is the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded to the player who best exemplifies Dedication, Perseverance, Sportsmanship.... so some over-lap there, players who have won both include Jean Ratelle & Butch Goring.... The Masterton however since about the mid 80's has been awarded to players who have overcome illness or injury, though there was the odd player who received it, like Bobby Clarke in 72 having overcome Diabetes to make it to & excel at the NHL level... though I dont know that one could reasonably assert that Bobby "exemplified the aspects of sportsmanship" even in 72 pre-Kharlamov slash & showed his true colors, before the Flyers really started dropping the gloves with Clarke running around starting plenty, finishing little himself....
Others however, Brad Park, Serge Savard, Ed Westfall, Don Luce, Lanny McDonald etc.... they fit the criteria absent having overcome any serious injuries or illnesses and in a considerable number of cases would have or should have also been considered for the Lady Byng at various times in their careers. The Byng awarded to the "player who exhibited the most sportsmanlike level of play & gentlemanly conduct while excelling at the game, playing it at its highest standards", the Masterton of "dedication, perseverance & sportsmanship"... words, criteria that do bleed into one another. Both awards that recognize intangibles, though the Masterton seems to have departed from its initial mandate somewhat, the criteria, the recipients pretty much since the mid 80's with only a few exceptions those who have overcome illnesses, injury, alcoholism & so on. Rather eclectic grouping, list of recipients of the Masterton & no, theres no way, no point in even thinking about ranking them as players against one another.
The Lady Byng recipients however, since 1924.... yes, you could rank them 1-94, and no, no one would laugh about it. Make for a pretty interesting exercise actually. Wayne Gretzky's on that list (and thanks Panther - 5X's). Others, including players amongst his contemporaries won it on multiple occasions. So we go beyond points, we get into a whole range of criteria that isnt measurable. Things for which no stats, no numbers are kept. Entirely knowledge based. I wonder then where Wayne Gretzky might rank on a Top 94 All Time Best of the Lady Byng trophy winners.... This award, its recipients, these are the guys where the rubber really hits the road, all round excellent players in almost every case & you have to know your stuff, know the game, know the players & dynamics inside out, upside down. Be challenging thats for sure.