Eliot J. Schechter
It took some time, but veteran defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings is once again a finalist for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy.
Lidstrom was named a finalist for the award, given annually to the league's most sportsmanlike player, for the sixth time in his career.
However, it's the first time in eight seasons that the Red Wings captain has been nominated for the honour, which he has never won.
Also nominated are forwards Loui Eriksson of the Dallas Stars and Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Lidstrom enjoyed another solid NHL season, finishing second in scoring among NHL defencemen, registering 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games. Lidstrom, who turns 41 later this month, registered just 20 minutes in penalties despite logging the most icetime among Red Wings players.
Lidstrom has finished second or third in Lady Byng voting from 1999 through 2003.
Eriksson is a Lady Byng finalist for the first time in his five-year career. The 25-year-old Swede had a career-high 73 points (27 goals, 46 assists) and a team-high 10 power-play goals. But he accumulated just eight penalty minutes during the regular season.
St. Louis, 35, was nominated for the sixth time overall and finished second in voting from 2007 through 2009 after being third in 2004. St. Louis was second in NHL scoring this season with 99 points (31 goals, 68 assists) while being called for just 12 penalty minutes, matching his career low set last year.
The award winner will be announced at the NHL awards banquet June 22 in Las Vegas.