Kings’ Dean Lombardi, Ducks’ Bob Murray among finalists for top NHL GM

Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi joined repeat nominees Bob Murray of the Ducks and Montreal’s Marc Bergevin as finalists for the NHL General Manager of the Year award, the league announced Friday.

Voting was conducted among all GMs and a panel of NHL executives and reporters. The winner is to be named at the June 24 NHL Awards in Las Vegas.

Lombardi navigated the NHL salary cap and orchestrated the Kings’ third consecutive appearance in the NHL Western Conference finals, where they’re tied at a game apiece with the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, with Game 3 set for Saturday at Staples Center.

In addition to re-signing captain Dustin Brown and defensemen Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin and Slava Voynov, Lombardi obtained forward Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline. Gaborik leads the NHL with nine playoff goals.

Murray was nominated for directing the Ducks to a second straight Pacific Division title that included the franchise’s first-ever Western Conference No. 1 playoff seed, with organization records in wins and goals.

In addition to re-signing players such as Matt Beleskey and Kyle Palmieri, Murray traded for center Mathieu Perreault and toughened the Ducks by acquiring Mark Fistric, Tim Jackman and Stephane Robidas while his minor-league operation generated goalies Frederik Andersen and John Gibson and defenseman Hampus Lindholm before a Game 7 loss to the Kings last week.

Bergevin’s Canadiens trail the New York Rangers two games to one in the Eastern Conference finals after producing their second 100-point campaign since 1992-93.