The Washington Capitals continue to earn attention as the NHL Awards are unveiled, with captain Alex Ovechkin and Logan Thompson earning consideration for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
Anze Kopitar won the award, which goes “to the player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Ovechkin placed 13th in voting this year, marking the third time he's placed in voting for the award, as he placed ninth in 2007-08 and 31st in 2021-22. This year, Ovechkin earned two first-place votes, one second-place vote, three fourth-place votes and two fifth-place votes.
The 39-year-old scored 44 goals in 65 games in 2024-25 to overtake Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer, while taking just 14 penalty minutes. Ovechkin also displayed sportsmanship over the course of the season, gathering his teammates to shake Marc-Andre Fleury's hand in their final game against him while also shaking hands with the opposing team ater tying and breaking Gretzky's record.
In addition to consideration for the Lady Byng, Ovechkin also placed fourth in Masterton Trophy voting and won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award.
Thompson, meanwhile, earned one fifth-place vote. The Capitals netminder went 31-6-6 in his first season with Washington while registering a .910 save percentage and 2.49 GAA, along with two shutouts.
Besides Ovechkin and Thompson's award consideration, Aliaksei Protas, PIerre-Luc Dubois and Nic Dowd also earned Selke votes, while John Carlson and Jakob. Chychrun earned Norris consideration. Coach Spencer Carbery won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's Coach of the Year.