Hurricanes’ Jaccob Slavin wins 2024 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy
An established blueliner is being honored for his fair play.
On Thursday, the National Hockey League announced that Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin has been awarded the 2024 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
This year's Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner is Jaccob Slavin of the @Canes! 👏 #NHLAwards
This annual award is given to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability. pic.twitter.com/LGezDxZrom
The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writer’s Association, and is given to the player that “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
It is the second time Slavin has taken home the trophy, as he became the fourth defenseman to win the award in 2021. He joins former Detroit Red Wing and Toronto Maple Leafs legend Red Kelly as the only blueliners to have won the Lady Byng on multiple occasions.
Slavin registered just four minor penalties in 81 games during the 2023-24 season, ranking first in ice time among the 35 skaters who played at least 50 games, and had 10 or fewer penalty minutes this season.
“You’re not just giving it to somebody who doesn’t take penalties,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said in a release. “It’s elite players who are able to play within the confines of the rules, is the way I look at it. Any of these awards that you get nominated for are special, and the way he does it, it’s special.”
In nine years, Slavin posted more than 10 penalty minutes in a season twice, that coming during the 2016-17 season (12) and 2018-19 campaign (18). The Denver native registered less than 10 penalty minutes four times, including taking just one minor penalty during the 2020-21 season.
“The game’s a hard game,” Slavin said. “I think you can still play the game hard, but you do it in the right way and treat people with respect out there.”
On the other side of the puck, Slavin scored six goals and 37 points, the second-most in a single season in his career. The 30-year-old posted a career-high 42 points in 2021-22.
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthew and Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettesron were the other finalist.
Slavin is the only Hurricane to have won the Lady Byng.