What NHL trophy honors sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct?

The NHL trophy that honors sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct is the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.

Lady Byng, wife of Canada's governor general, donated the original trophy during the 1924–25 season. She asked the NHL to recognize a player who combined skill with exceptionally gentlemanly behavior. Ottawa Senators forward Frank Nighbor became the first winner.

The award is not simply a prize for the player with the fewest penalty minutes. Voters consider sportsmanship, conduct and playing ability together, and members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association select finalists and the winner. That is why the honor can go to an elite scorer or defenseman rather than only to a low-penalty specialist.

A common mix-up is confusing it with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which recognizes leadership and humanitarian contributions. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy honors perseverance and dedication to hockey, while the Jack Adams Award goes to the NHL's top coach. After Frank Boucher won the original trophy seven times in eight seasons, he was allowed to keep it; a replacement was donated in 1936. The name became Lady Byng Memorial Trophy after Lady Byng died in 1949.