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Ted Lindsay Award: What It Is + Every Winner

The Ted Lindsay Award is the NHL's players' MVP, given to the "most outstanding player in the NHL" as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA. Where the Hart Trophy reflects media perception of value, this one reflects what opponents and peers think when they game-plan night after night. The award originated in 1971-72 as the Lester B. Pearson Award, named after the former Canadian prime minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner. In 2010, the NHLPA renamed it the Ted Lindsay Award to honor Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay, a four-time Stanley Cup champion with Detroit and a key figure in founding the players' association. Each year, NHLPA members vote by secret ballot at the end of the regular season to determine the league's most outstanding player. Because it's peer-voted, players often say this is the individual trophy they value most, given it comes directly from those who battle against and alongside them.

January 25, 2026

How It Differs from the Hart Trophy

The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded to "the player judged most valuable to his team," as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The Ted Lindsay focuses on "most outstanding player" regardless of team context and is voted exclusively by players.

Key Differences:

The Hart sometimes leans toward narrative and team impact:

Dragging a weak roster to the playoffs
Overcoming injuries or adversity
Media storylines influence voting
Team success factors heavily

The Lindsay often leans toward pure dominance:

Skaters who terrify defenders and goalies
Regardless of how strong supporting cast is
What players see on ice matters most
Respect from peers who face them directly

Many seasons, the same player wins both. But there are notable splits where media and players clearly saw things differently.

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Record Holders and Era-Defining Winners

The all-time leader in Ted Lindsay Awards is Connor McDavid, who has won it five times (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025). This surpasses Wayne Gretzky's five wins and marks one of the most concentrated stretches of peer-recognized dominance in league history.

Multi-Time Winners:

Wayne Gretzky: 5 wins (1982-85, 1987)

Won under the Pearson name
Dominated 1980s era
Players recognized his unmatched skill

Mario Lemieux: 4 wins (1986, 1988, 1993, 1996)

Elite offensive talent
Peers respected his complete game
Won despite injury struggles

Connor McDavid: 5 wins (2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025)

Current era's dominant player
Players anointing him as generation's best
Surpassed Gretzky's total

Jaromir Jagr: 3 wins (1999, 2000, 2006)

Elite skill across multiple decades
Longevity and consistency

Alexander Ovechkin: 3 wins (2008, 2009, 2010)

Three consecutive years
Goal-scoring dominance
Physical and skilled combination

Sidney Crosby: 3 wins (2007, 2013, 2014)

Complete two-way excellence
Leadership and skill
Peers respected his impact

If you can name trophy winners off the top of your head, you'll crush Gridzy. Today's grid might literally be built around what you just read.

Recent Winners (2010-2026)

2024-25: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) Fifth Ted Lindsay, surpassing Gretzky's record.

2023-24: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) First Ted Lindsay with 69-goal season.

2022-23: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) Fourth win with 153 points.

2021-22: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) Third Ted Lindsay, sustained dominance.

2020-21: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) Second win during shortened season.

2019-20: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) First Ted Lindsay with 110 points.

2018-19: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning) First win with 128 points.

2017-18: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) First Ted Lindsay at age 21.

2016-17: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) Won Art Ross same season.

2015-16: Patrick Kane (Chicago Black Hawks) First American-born winner since Brian Leetch.

2014-15: Carey Price (Montreal Canadiens) Rare goalie winner, historic season.

2013-14: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) Third Ted Lindsay win.

2012-13: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) Second win during lockout season.

2011-12: Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins) Second Ted Lindsay, 109 points.

2010-11: Daniel Sedin (Vancouver Canucks) First win, playmaking excellence.

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Complete Winner List (1972-2026)

2000s Era:

2009-10: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)
2008-09: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)
2007-08: Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)
2006-07: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh)
2005-06: Jaromir Jagr (NY Rangers)
2003-04: Martin St. Louis (Tampa Bay)
2002-03: Markus Naslund (Vancouver)
2001-02: Jarome Iginla (Calgary)
2000-01: Joe Sakic (Colorado)

1990s Era:

1999-00: Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh)
1998-99: Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh)
1997-98: Dominik Hasek (Buffalo)
1996-97: Dominik Hasek (Buffalo)
1995-96: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
1994-95: Eric Lindros (Philadelphia)
1993-94: Sergei Fedorov (Detroit)
1992-93: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
1991-92: Mark Messier (NY Rangers)
1990-91: Brett Hull (St. Louis)

1980s Era:

1989-90: Mark Messier (Edmonton)
1988-89: Steve Yzerman (Detroit)
1987-88: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
1986-87: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton)
1985-86: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh)
1984-85: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton)
1983-84: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton)
1982-83: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton)
1981-82: Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton)
1980-81: Mike Bossy (NY Islanders)

1970s Era:

1979-80: Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles)
1978-79: Guy Lafleur (Montreal)
1977-78: Guy Lafleur (Montreal)
1976-77: Guy Lafleur (Montreal)
1975-76: Guy Lafleur (Montreal)
1974-75: Phil Esposito (Boston)
1973-74: Phil Esposito (Boston)
1972-73: Bobby Clarke (Philadelphia)
1971-72: Jean Ratelle (NY Rangers)

Why the Lindsay Matters

Because it's voted on by the league's players, the Ted Lindsay Award is often cited by stars as the most meaningful individual trophy to win. When skaters like McDavid, Crosby, or Ovechkin stack Lindsay wins, it signals not just elite production, but deep respect from peers.

Players see the little details that fans and media miss:

Speed through the neutral zone
Deception on entries
How much stress they put on defenders
Skating ability under pressure
Compete level on every shift

When players vote for someone repeatedly, they're saying "this guy is the hardest to play against" or "this guy is doing things we can't figure out how to stop." That peer recognition carries weight beyond any media narrative.

The Ted Lindsay represents what players know to be true from facing someone 82 nights a year: some players are just on a different level, and everyone in the league knows it.

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