Tampa Bay Lightning ahead Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche ahead Nathan MacKinnon and Toronto Maple Leafs ahead Auston Matthews have been named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the NHL’s most excellent participant as voted on by NHL Gamers’ Affiliation members. Edmonton Oilers ahead Connor McDavid was final 12 months’s recipient.
Kucherov recorded the fourth 100-plus level season of his profession in 2023-24, main the league with 144 factors to safe his second-ev Artwork Ross Trophy. The Russian winger additionally grew to become the fifth participant in NHL historical past to realize 100 assists in a single season and led the league in major assists (62) and power-play factors (53). Kucherov’s 44 objectives are additionally a single-season profession excessive.
MacKinnon had a 35-home-game factors streak, the second-longest in NHL historical past behind Wayne Gretzky’s 40-game streak. The Nova Scotia native additionally set profession highs in objectives (51), assists (89) and factors (140) whereas main all scorers in even-strength factors (92) and ending with the second-most even-strength objectives (41). Like Kucherov, MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy earlier this week.
Matthews led all objective scorers with 69, incomes his third-ever Rocket Richard Trophy. He scored 51 objectives at even power, turning into the eighth participant in NHL historical past to perform the feat. Matthews additionally scored a career-high 107 factors, essentially the most he’s ever recorded in a season. The Maple Leafs ahead, who completed second within the league in takeaways (85), can also be a finalist for the Selke Trophy.
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(Photograph of Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon: Michael Martin / NHLI by way of Getty Photos)
