Three players were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday.
The award is given annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players' Association.
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov, Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon, and Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar are the three finalists.
Kucherov won the Art Ross Trophy for the second consecutive season and third overall, leading the NHL in scoring with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 78 games. He also topped the league in power-play points with 46. This is his third time as a finalist; he won the award in 2019.
MacKinnon finished second in scoring with 116 points and tied Kucherov for the league lead in assists with 84. He led the league with 320 shots on goal. MacKinnon, who won the award last season, is a four-time finalist.
Makar led all defensemen in goals (30), assists (62), and points (92), finishing ninth overall in league scoring. He also led defensemen in power-play goals (12) and points (35). Makar is a first-time finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award. He is also a finalist for the Norris Trophy, awarded to the league's top defenseman.
MacKinnon and Makar are the first teammates to be named finalists for the award since it was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award in 2010, having previously been known as the Lester B. Pearson Award.
The winner will be announced at a later date.
Finalists for other NHL Awards, including the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP), are being announced throughout the week. NHL announces Ted Lindsay Award finalists: Will MacKinnon repeat?
The Hart Trophy is voted upon by select Professional Hockey Writers’ Association members, while the Lindsay Award is determined by current players. The two awards have gone to different players in 18 seasons since the Lindsay Award's inception in 1971. The most recent split occurred in 2018.
