Sharks’ Karlsson joins select company as he becomes finalist for player’s award

NHL: San Jose Sharks' Erik Karlsson named a finalist for Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s Most Outstanding Player as voted by the NHL Players’ Association.

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson on Wednesday was named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the league’s Most Outstanding Player, as determined by the NHL Players’ Association.

Karlsson, who was also named a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman earlier this month, is just the third player in Sharks history to be named a finalist for the award, joining Joe Thornton and Brent Burns.

Thornton was a finalist in 2005-06, the year he won the Hart and Art Ross trophies, and Burns was a finalist in 2016-17 when he won the Norris. No Sharks player has ever won the award, named after the longtime Detroit Red Wings great who helped to establish the NHLPA.

Other finalists for the award are Edmonton’s Connor McDavid — the favorite to win the Hart Trophy this year as the league’s top player, as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association — and Boston’s David Pastrnak.

Karlsson, in his fifth full season with the Sharks, had 25 goals and 76 assists, both career-highs, as he became the first NHL defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1991-1991 to record more than 100 points in a season. Leetch had 102 points that year. Karlsson also averaged 25:37 in ice time per game to lead the Sharks as he played a full 82-game for the first time since 2015-16 when he was with the Ottawa Senators.

Karlsson has never been named a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award.