Nicklas Lidstrom was named as one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy -- awarded annually to the NHL's best defenseman in a vote by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Lidstrom has won five Norris Trophies, including the past two seasons. This is his ninth time as a finalist for the award in the past 10 years.
The other finalists are Zdeno Chara of Boston and Dion Phaneuf of Calgary. Neither has won the award before. This is Phaneuf's first time as a finalist. Chara finished second to Scott Niedermayer of New Jersey in 2004 -- the only season in the past six that Lidstrom did not win the award.

The NHL is releasing the names of finalists for one award per day this week. Yesterday, the league revealed the three finalists for the Vezina Trophy -- Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils, Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers and Evgeni Nabokov of the San Jose Sharks. The rest of the week's schedule is ...
Wednesday, Calder Trophy (outstanding rookie)
Thursday, Lady Byng (sportsmanship)
Friday, Selke Trophy (outstanding defensive forward)