TAMPA, Fla. — Martin St. Louis could be named the NHL’s best.
On Thursday morning, the league announced that the veteran Tampa Bay Lightning winger is one of three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, presented annually to the NHL’s Most Outstanding Player. Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby and Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin are the other finalists.
The players vote on the award, which honors Lindsay, 87, a former winger for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks. St. Louis (once), Crosby (once) and Ovechkin (three times) are all previous recipients of the honor. Before the 2009-10 season, the accolade was known as the Lester B. Pearson Award.
St. Louis, a 14-year veteran, led the league in points (60) this season, winning his second career Art Ross Trophy, following his first after the 2003-04 campaign. He also ranked first in assists (43), second in points per game (1.25) and fifth in power play assists.
“Hey, I’m proud,” St. Louis said of winning the Art Ross Trophy, after a season-ending loss to the Florida Panthers on April 27. “I’m really excited about it. I’m not going to pretend I’m not.”
This is the third consecutive year a Lightning player has been nominated for the award. Center Steven Stamkos was a finalist in each of the past two seasons. St. Louis claimed the honor after the 2003-04 campaign, when he had 94 points and a plus-minus rating of plus-35.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
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