NHLPA members select Connor McDavid as 2017-18 Ted Lindsay Award recipient
…First two-time TLA recipient before age of 22
LAS VEGAS/ TORONTO (June 20, 2018) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today at the 2018 NHL Awards™ presented by Hulu that Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is the recipient of the 2017-18 Ted Lindsay Award (TLA) after garnering the most votes from the players for his exceptional season. The TLA is presented annually “to the most outstanding player in the NHL,” as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.
Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche both finished as first-time finalists for the TLA. Hall placed sixth in the league in points (93), which were 41 more than his next-closest teammate. MacKinnon co-led the league in game-winning goals (12) and placed second in points per game (1.31).
McDavid is the first player in the history of the TLA to receive the players’ award twice before the age of 22. This is only the 16th time that the players’ choice for most outstanding player differed from the Hart Trophy winner.
Former recipients Eric Lindros (1994-95) and Daniel Sedin (2010-11) presented the TLA to McDavid during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas.
McDavid played in all 82 regular-season games for the Edmonton Oilers, for the second straight season. The Oilers’ captain led the league in points (108) to win his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy, while recording the third-most assists (67), scoring the sixth-most goals (41) and placing first in points per game (1.32). McDavid led the NHL in multi-point games (32), as well as even-strength goals (35), assists (49) and points (84) – finishing with 18 points more than the second-ranked player in the latter category. Among league forwards, he finished fourth in average ice-time per game (21:33). Last season, the 21-year-old became the third Oilers player (Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier) to be named the most outstanding player by his peers. He is also the first back-to-back recipient of the TLA since Sidney Crosby (2012-13, 2013-14).
Previous Award Recipients
Season
Player
Team
1970-71
Phil Esposito
Boston Bruins
1971-72
Jean Ratelle
New York Rangers
1972-73
Bobby Clarke
Philadelphia Flyers
1973-74
Phil Esposito
Boston Bruins
1974-75
Bobby Orr
Boston Bruins
1975-76
Guy Lafleur
Montreal Canadiens
1976-77
Guy Lafleur
Montreal Canadiens
1977-78
Guy Lafleur
Montreal Canadiens
1978-79
Marcel Dionne
Los Angeles Kings
1979-80
Marcel Dionne
Los Angeles Kings
1980-81
Mike Liut
St. Louis Blues
1981-82
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
1982-83
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
1983-84
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
1984-85
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
1985-86
Mario Lemieux
Pittsburgh Penguins
1986-87
Wayne Gretzky
Edmonton Oilers
1987-88
Mario Lemieux
Pittsburgh Penguins
1988-89
Steve Yzerman
Detroit Red Wings
1989-90
Mark Messier
Edmonton Oilers
1990-91
Brett Hull
St. Louis Blues
1991-92
Mark Messier
New York Rangers
1992-93
Mario Lemieux
Pittsburgh Penguins
1993-94
Sergei Fedorov
Detroit Red Wings
1994-95
Eric Lindros
Philadelphia Flyers
1995-96
Mario Lemieux
Pittsburgh Penguins
1996-97
Dominik Hasek
Buffalo Sabres
1997-98
Dominik Hasek
Buffalo Sabres
1998-99
Jaromir Jagr
Pittsburgh Penguins
1999-00
Jaromir Jagr
Pittsburgh Penguins
2000-01
Joe Sakic
Colorado Avalanche
2001-02
Jarome Iginla
Calgary Flames
2002-03
Markus Naslund
Vancouver Canucks
2003-04
Martin St. Louis
Tampa Bay Lightning
2005-06
Jaromir Jagr
New York Rangers
2006-07
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
2007-08
Alexander Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
2008-09
Alexander Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
2009-10
Alexander Ovechkin
Washington Capitals
2010-11
Daniel Sedin
Vancouver Canucks
2011-12
Evgeni Malkin
Pittsburgh Penguins
2012-13
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
2013-14
Sidney Crosby
Pittsburgh Penguins
2014-15
Carey Price
Montreal Canadiens
2015-16
Patrick Kane
Chicago Blackhawks
2016-17
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
2917-18
Connor McDavid
Edmonton Oilers
About the Ted Lindsay Award:
The Ted Lindsay Award (TLA) is unique as the only award voted on by the players themselves, carrying on the tradition established by the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1970-71. Reintroduced in 2009-10, the TLA honours Ted Lindsay – its namesake – an NHL All-Star forward known for his skill, tenacity, leadership, and role in establishing the original Players’ Association. Annually, NHLPA members vote on the player they deem to be the most outstanding in the NHL regular season. For more information on the TLA, visit NHLPA.com. Join the conversation by using #TedLindsayAward.
