The NHL’s Player Association has announced the finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, which is awarded annually to the NHL’s most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the players.
The finalists are Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins.
McDavid is a finalist for the fifth time in his career; he has won the Ted Lindsay Award three times throughout his career so far. He last won the award in 2020-21 when he registered 105 points in the 56-game shortened season; he also won the award back to back years in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
This past season, McDavid became just the sixth NHL player to reach the 150-point milestone. He became the first player to smash that barrier since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. McDavid scored 64 goals and 89 assists for 153 points in 82 games.
Neither Karlsson nor Pastrnak has won the award yet in their careers. Karlsson is also a Norris Trophy Finalist after he registered a whopping 101 points (25 goals, 76 assists) in 82 games and became the first defenseman to score 100 points since Brian Leetch.
Karlsson is looking at becoming only the second defenseman to receive the Ted Lindsay Award. Pastrnak registered a career-high 61 goals and 113 points in 82 games and helped lead the Bruins on a historical run throughout the season that saw them reach the 65-win plateau and become the fastest NHL team in history to reach the 50-win and 100-point threshold.
Pastrnak is the first Bruins finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award since Joe Thronton was a finalist in 2002-03.
The winners of the NHL Awards will be announced during the Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final.
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