Brad Richards a Finalist for the Lady Bing Trophy

Press Release from the Dallas Stars Website: http://stars.nhl.com/

Here's the Player Profiles of the Lady Bing Finalist.

Brad Richards (DAL): www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8467389#&navid=nhl-keymatch

Brad Richards 2009-2010 Season Stats

80 GP 91 PTS (24G 67A), -12, 14 Penalty Minutes,

Martin St. Louis (TB): www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8466378#&navid=nhl-keymatch

Martin St. Louis 2009-2010 Season Stats

82 GP 94 PTS (29G 65A), -8, 12 Penalty Minutes

Pavel Datsyuk (DET): www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8467514#&navid=nhl-keymatch

Pavel Datsyuk 2009-2010 Season Stats

80 GP 70 PTS (27G 43A), +17, 18 Penalty Minutes


Stars Center Brad Richards has been named a finalist for the Lady Bing Trophy, which is awarded "to the player that adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk and Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis are the other finalist for the award this year.

Richards tied his career high in points with 91 this season and fell one assist shy from tying his career best in assists with 68. He won the Lady Bing in 2004, shortly after capturing the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lighting. Richards was also a runner-up to Datsyuk for the award in 2006. Seventh in the league in scoring and fourth in the league in assists, Richards was only assessed 14 penalty minutes throughout the entire season while playing an average of 20:51 per game and appearing in 80 games this season.

Consistently among the league's least penalized and most productive players, Richards was named to the 2000-2001 All-Rookie Team and won the 2004 Con Smyth Trophy as Playoff MVP while never amassing more then 32 penalty minutes in any of his nine NHL Seasons.

"It's definitely an honor to be named a finalist for the Lady Bing Trophy," Richards said. "I've been fortunate to win it in the past and be a runner-up as well."

He finished the 2009-2010 season just two points shy of tying Mike Modano for the single most productive season by a Stars Player (93 points in 1993-1994). Richards recorded 6-13 for 19 points in his last 15 games, 7-18 for 25 points in his last 21 and 15-53 for 71 points in his last 63 games of the season. He recorded a team high six game assist streak (March 27 through April 8, with 9 points (3G 6A)) as well as a team high tying eight game point streak (October 22 through November 7, 11 points (3G 8A).

Richards three assists in one period against Minnesota on 1/18 tied a team record. He finished 2nd in the league in power play points with 40, tied for 2nd in power play assists (27), fourth in assists, and seventh overall in points. Richards 67 assists this season were the most ever by a Dallas Stars Player and 3rd best in team history.

The Members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association submitted ballots for the Lady Bing Memorial Trophy at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote getter's designated as finalist. The winner will be announced on June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards that will be broadcasted live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas on Versus in the USA & on CBC in Canada.

Datsyuk is looking to become the first player in league history to win five straight Lady Bing Trophies. He led Detroit in scoring for the fifth straight season and led the NHL in takeaways for the third time in the past 4 season with a career high 132. He is also a finalist to win 3 Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward for the third straight season. Datsyuk was only one of 3 of the league's top 30 scorers this season who had fewer then 20 penalty minutes.

St. Louis has been the runner up to Datsyuk for the Lady Bing the last three seasons. The Tampa Bay Winger ranked sixth in the league with 94 points, the 2nd highest total of his 11 year career. His 12 penalty minutes were the fewest among the league's top 50 scorers and the fewest among who played in all 82 games this season.