Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid, San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, and Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov have been named as the top three contenders for the prestigious 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award by the NHL Players’ Association. The accolade recognizes the player deemed the most outstanding in the league, as voted by fellow NHL players.
McDavid, aiming for his fifth award, stood out by leading the NHL in points with an impressive total of 138 and achieving significant milestones of 800 career assists and 400 goals. His exceptional performance was acknowledged by teammate Leon Draisaitl, who expressed no surprise at McDavid’s nomination ahead of a crucial Game 5 against Anaheim.
Despite facing a challenging 3-1 deficit in the first-round series, Oilers’ head coach Kris Knoblauch praised McDavid for his exceptional form during the late regular season, emphasizing his crucial role in securing a playoff spot for the team. Knoblauch commended McDavid’s outstanding production throughout the season and highlighted his resilience in critical moments when the team needed him most.
In addition to McDavid, Celebrini made a mark with the Sharks by setting a franchise record and ranking fourth in league scoring with 115 points in his second season. Meanwhile, Kucherov, a previous Ted Lindsay Award winner, led the Lightning with 130 points and achieved the milestone of reaching 1,000 career points faster than any other Russian player.
The final recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award will be announced later, continuing a tradition that began in the 1970-71 season under the name Lester B. Pearson Award, later renamed in honor of NHL legend Ted Lindsay in 2010 for his significant contributions to the NHLPA.