DETROIT -- Being nominated for the Lady Byng Trophy implies that the player is passive and not overly physical.

That is not the case with Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk, who has managed to combine the criteria of “sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct’’ along with an element of grit to dominate the balloting for the award in recent years.

Datsyuk was named a finalist again Wednesday. He has an opportunity to become the first player in NHL history to win the trophy in five consecutive seasons.

With his lightning quick hands, Datsyuk has become a master of stripping opponents of the puck without drawing many penalties. He has a penchant for throwing his shoulder into would-be checkers to maintain puck possession. He had only 18 penalty minutes, along with 27 goals and 70 points, in 80 games in the regular season.

Martin St. Louis of Tampa Bay and Brad Richards of Dallas are the other finalists. The winner will be announced June 23 at the NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas.

Only one other player, Frank Boucher of the New York Rangers, has won the award four years in a row (1927-28 to 1930-31). Boucher won it seven times in eight seasons.

Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard is expected to be named a finalist Thursday for the Calder Trophy as top rookie. On Friday, Nicklas Lidstrom has a chance to be a finalist for the Norris Trophy as best defenseman, which he has won six times.