Johnny Gaudreau, Vladimir Tarasenko and Mikael Granlund Named Lady Byng Finalists

Johnny Gaudreau of the Calgary Flames, Mikael Granlund of the Minnesota Wild and Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues were named as the three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy awarded to the player for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct on Sunday. 

Gaudreau, the Salem, New Jersey native is a first-time finalist for the hardware after finishing fourth last season. With an average of 18:29 of ice time during the 2016-2017 campaign, he was assessed only two minor penalties in 72 games. 

The 23-year-old forward played his final 16 games without being sent to the sinbin, while scoring 17 points (5 goals & 12 assists). Gaudreau led the Flames with 61 points (18 G 43 A). 

Granlund, 25, led the Wild with 69 points (26 G 43 A) as he averaged 18:49 per game. In 81 games this past season, he took only 12 penalty minutes. 

The first-time finalist went 27 games, between January 5 and March 5 without taking a penalty, and put up 30 points (11 G 19 A) over that span. 

Tarasenko, also a first-time finalist, finished in the top 10 in both goals (39, tied for fourth place) and points (75, 10^th place). The 25-year-old only took 12 minutes in penalties through 82 games during the 2016-2017 season. 

Through his final 31 games, he was assessed just one minor penalty, while scoring 25 points (16 G 9 A). 

One of the three young stars will find out who was selected as the most sportsmanlike player for the 2016-2017 National Hockey League season, during the 2017 NHL Awards taking place at the Vegas Golden Knights new home, T-Mobile Arena on June 21 at 7:30 PM. 

NBCSN in the United States and Sportsnet in Canada, will broadcast all the festivities from the 2017 NHL Awards and Expansion Draft.