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Kopitar has a chance to win one last Lady Byng as NHL reveals Byng and Jack Adams nominees
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
May 1, 2026, 14:30 EDTUpdated: May 1, 2026, 14:43 EDT
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One last ride.
Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar has the chance to win one last Lady Byng Memorial Trophy before he rides off into the sunset. The NHL announced Thursday that Kopitar, Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson, and Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caufield are the three finalists for the 2026 Lady Byng.
Voted on annually by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is bestowed upon the NHL player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
Kopitar first won the award in 2015-16, and added two more in 2022-23 and 2024-25.
The longtime Kings forward — who won Stanley Cups with the club in 2012 and 2014 — announced at the start of this past season that 2025-26 would be his final NHL campaign. The Kings managed to make the playoffs, but were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
Kopitar retires having played 1521 regular season games, and 107 playoff games. Over his 20-year career, Kopitar tallied 452 goals and 864 assists in the regular season, while adding 27 goals and 62 assists in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
One of the most well-respected players around the league, Kopitar has also won the Selke Award twice, along with the M*rk M*ssier NHL Leadership Award in 2021-22. This would be the fourth Lady Byng of Kopitar’s career if he wins it. The winner will be announced in June.

NHL announces Jack Adams nominees

On Friday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, awarded to the league head coach “adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.”
Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, and Lindy Ruff are the three finalists for this year’s award.
From the NHL release:
“Cooper, the longest-tenured active head coach in the NHL, led Tampa Bay (50-26-6, 106 points) to its ninth consecutive playoff berth (tied for the longest current run in the League) and 12th in his 13 full seasons at the helm of the franchise.
“Muse, in his first campaign as an NHL head coach, steered Pittsburgh (41-25-16, 98 points) to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division and its first playoff berth since 2021-22. Muse’s 41 wins were tied for the third-most by a Penguins head coach in their first season with the team, trailing just Mike Johnston (43 in 2014-15) and Ivan Hlinka (42 in 2000-01).
“Ruff, in the second season of his second stint behind the Buffalo bench, guided the Sabres (50‑23-9, 109 points) to their third-highest win and fifth-highest point totals in franchise history en route to the team’s first playoff berth since 2010-11 and first division title since 2009-10 – both achieved during his prior tenure with the organization.”
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association vote on the Adams Award, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists.

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