(VIA NHL MEDIA RELEASE)

TORONTO (May 9, 2013) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that centre Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, right wing Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals and right wing Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning have been nominated as finalists for the 2012-13 Ted Lindsay Award. The Ted Lindsay Award is presented annually to the “Most Outstanding Player” in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

The Ted Lindsay Award is the only award voted on by the players themselves, carrying on the tradition established by the Lester B. Pearson Award since 1970-71. The Award honours Ted Lindsay, an All-Star forward known for his skill, tenacity, leadership, and for his role in establishing the original Players’ Association.

Crosby, Ovechkin and St. Louis are all previous recipients of the “Most Outstanding Player” award, and this group of finalists will have received six of the last nine awards, including this season. The 2012-13 Ted Lindsay Award recipient will be announced during the 2013 Stanley Cup Final.

The following players are finalists for the 2012-13 Ted Lindsay Award (in alphabetical order):

Sidney Crosby, of Cole Harbour, NS, Canada, appeared in 36 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012-13 regular season, and helped lead the Penguins to first place in the Eastern Conference. He ranked tied for third in the league in points (56), second in assists (41), fourth in plus-minus (+26), and first in points per game (1.56). This marks the second year in a row that a Penguins player has been nominated, after Evgeni Malkin received the 2011-12 Ted Lindsay Award. Crosby is vying for his second “Most Outstanding Player” award. He received the players’ award in 2006-07 and was also a finalist in 2009-10.

Alex Ovechkin, of Moscow, Russia, appeared in all 48 games for the Washington Capitals in the 2012-13 regular season, and helped lead the Capitals to a Southeast Division title. He led the league in goals (32) to win his third “Rocket” Richard Trophy, tied for third in the league in points (56), tied for fifth in points per game (1.17) and ranked first in power play goals (16). Ovechkin is vying for his fourth “Most Outstanding Player” award. He previously received the players’ award in three consecutive seasons (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10), and he was also a finalist in 2005-06.

Martin St. Louis, of Laval, QC, Canada, appeared in all 48 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2012-13 season. He led the league in points (60) to win his second career Art Ross Trophy (2003-04), ranked first in assists (43), second in points per game (1.25), and fifth in power play assists. This marks the third consecutive year that a Lightning player has been nominated, after St. Louis’ linemate Steven Stamkos was a finalist in each of the previous two seasons. St. Louis is vying for his second “Most Outstanding Player” award. He received the players’ award in 2003-04

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed defenseman Radko Gudas to a three-year contract, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Gudas, 22, played in 22 games with the Lightning this past season, collecting two goals and five points to go along with a plus-3 rating and 38 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut on March 12 at Florida and scored his first career NHL goal on March 20 at Toronto. Gudas ranked seventh in the NHL among rookies with 87 hits despite playing in only 22 games during the 2012-13 regular season.

The 6-foot, 204-pound defenseman skated in 57 games this season with the Crunch, notching four goals and 20 points. Gudas ranked first in the American Hockey League with a plus-32 rating and was seventh in the league with 207 penalty minutes. During the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, he has recorded one goal and four penalty minutes, helping the Crunch sweep their first round opponent, the Portland Pirates.

The Prague, Czech Republic, native was originally drafted by the Lightning in the third round, 66^th overall, of the 2010 NHL Draft. Gudas has played in 228 career AHL games with the Norfolk Admirals and the Crunch, registering 15 goals, 57 points and 567 penalty minutes. In the 2011-12 season, Gudas led the Admirals in penalty minutes with 195.

TAMPA, FL (Tampa Bay Lightning Communications) – The Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to terms with center Cedric Paquette on a three-year, entry-level contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.  Paquette also signed an AHL ATO for the remainder of the season. 

Paquette, 6-foot, 187 pounds, played in 63 games with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past season, recording 27 goals, including six on the power-play, and 83 points with a plus-29 rating and 103 penalty minutes.   He led the Armada for points, assists and shots on goal with 261, while ranking second for plus/minus and penalty minutes.  Paquette was also fourth on the team in goals.  He played in 15 postseason games, registering seven goals and 12 points.  Paquette was tied for the team lead for goals and led for penalty minutes with 33. 

A native of Gaspe, Quebec, Paquette has played in 126 QMJHL games during his two-year career with Blainville-Boisbriand, amassing 58 goals and 131 points with 191 penalty minutes.  He has also appeared in 26 postseason games, notching 14 goals and 29 points.  He led the Armada with 31 goals in 2011-12.  Prior to joining the Armada Paquette played three seasons for College Notre-Dame in Montreal, scoring 28 goals in 2010-11 before going to the QMJHL. 

Paquette was drafted by Tampa Bay in the fourth round, 101^st overall, of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

TAMPA, FL (Tampa Bay Lightning) – The Tampa Bay Lightning’s auction of autographed, game-worn helmets from their game on April 25, 2013 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, which featured the iconic “Boston Strong” sticker on the back, ended yesterday and raised nearly $15,000. The Lightning will donate the difference to give a total of $15,000 to One Fund Boston. 

The once-in-a-lifetime auction items raised $14,515.73 for the fund. Lightning forward Steven Stamkos’ helmet raised more than $5,000 alone.  Each member of the Lightning, excluding goaltenders, had a helmet available.  The helmets are white and feature ribbon stickers with the words ‘Boston Strong’ along with the blue and yellow colors of the 2013 Boston Marathon. 

The One Fund Boston was established by Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in response to the horrific bombings at the Boston Marathon on April 15.  The purpose of the One Fund Boston is to raise money to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded that day.  To date the One Fund Boston has received more than $26 million in donations.