Connor McDavid has once again been recognized as the most outstanding player in the NHL — this time making history in the process. On June 7, 2026, the Edmonton Oilers captain was named the winner of the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award, becoming only the second player in the trophy’s history to claim it five times. The only other player to reach that milestone? Wayne Gretzky.
What Is the Ted Lindsay Award?
The Ted Lindsay Award is one of the most prestigious individual honors in professional hockey — and arguably the most meaningful. Unlike most NHL trophies decided by media votes or league committees, this award is voted on exclusively by the players themselves, making it a true peer recognition.
The award was originally introduced in the 1970-71 season as the Lester B. Pearson Award, named after the former Canadian Prime Minister. It was rebranded in 2009-10 to honor Ted Lindsay, a Hockey Hall of Fame forward with the Detroit Red Wings who was known for his toughness, leadership, and his foundational role in establishing the original NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA).
The award is presented annually to the player deemed “the most outstanding player in the NHL” as voted on by fellow NHLPA members. When your peers — the men you compete against every night — recognize your excellence, it carries an entirely different weight than any media-voted award.
2026 Ted Lindsay Award Winner: Connor McDavid
Winner: Connor McDavid Team: Edmonton Oilers Position: Center 2025-26 Stats: 48 goals, 90 assists, 138 points in 82 games
McDavid led the NHL in both points (138) and assists (90) during the 2025-26 regular season, putting together one of the strongest campaigns of his already-legendary career. He recorded points in 68 of the 82 games he played, including 43 multi-point games. He also had seven games with at least four points and three games with five points.
His season included a remarkable 20-game point streak from December 4 to January 13, during which he posted 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists).
McDavid also crossed several all-time milestones during the 2025-26 season, including reaching 1,200 career points in just 784 games — the third-fastest in NHL history, trailing only Gretzky (504 games) and Mario Lemieux (593 games).
How McDavid Found Out He Won
The moment McDavid learned of his fifth Ted Lindsay Award win is one for the books. According to reports, he was surprised with the award during a golf round at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario. His wife Lauren — who was in on the surprise — told him they were simply playing nine holes before heading to dinner.
That’s when his parents, Brian and Kelly McDavid, stepped out of a golf cart holding the trophy. His brother Cam, Cam’s wife, and four childhood friends were all part of the surprise gathering.
“This award, coming from the guys that you play against every single night and battle against every single night, to have them recognize me with an award like this, means so much,” McDavid said upon receiving the honor.
His father Brian reflected on the surreal nature of the moment: “He’s 29 years old and has won it for the fifth time. Wayne is the iconic player in the game, and to have Connor’s name up there with his name is just surreal.”
2026 Ted Lindsay Award Finalists
Before McDavid was announced as the winner, the NHLPA named three finalists for the 2025-26 award. Here is a closer look at each candidate:
Connor McDavid – Edmonton Oilers
McDavid was the clear statistical leader of the group. His 138 points ranked first in the NHL, and his 90 assists led the league as well. Despite missing key teammate Leon Draisaitl down the stretch of the regular season, McDavid kept the Oilers in playoff contention. He also won the Art Ross Trophy for the sixth time, tying Gordie Howe and Mario Lemieux for second-most wins behind Gretzky (10).
Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning
The reigning Ted Lindsay Award winner (2024-25), Kucherov put together another elite season. He finished second in NHL scoring with 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in just 76 games. His points-per-game average of 1.71 was actually the best in the entire league, edging out McDavid’s 1.68. This was his fourth time as a Ted Lindsay finalist, including the third consecutive season.
Macklin Celebrini – San Jose Sharks
Perhaps the most exciting story of the finalist group, 19-year-old Celebrini had a breakout sophomore season that turned heads across the hockey world. He set a single-season San Jose Sharks franchise record with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games, finishing fourth in NHL scoring. Celebrini became just the second player under 20 in NHL history — alongside Wayne Gretzky — to post a 40-goal, 70-assist season. He would have been the first Sharks player ever to win the Ted Lindsay Award.
McDavid’s Historic Achievement: Five Ted Lindsay Awards
With his fifth win, McDavid joins an extremely exclusive club. Here is a breakdown of the players who have won the Ted Lindsay Award (or its predecessor, the Lester B. Pearson Award) the most times:
| Player | Times Won | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Wayne Gretzky | 5 | 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987 |
| Connor McDavid | 5 | 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2026 |
| Mario Lemieux | 4 | 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996 |
| Sidney Crosby | 3 | 2007, 2013, 2014 |
| Alex Ovechkin | 3 | 2008, 2009, 2010 |
McDavid’s five wins came across a span of just nine seasons (2016-17 through 2025-26), a testament to his sustained dominance at the top of the sport. At just 29 years old, he could theoretically add to this total in the years to come.
Ted Lindsay Award: Recent Winners
Here is a look at how the award has been distributed in recent years:
| Season | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2024-25 | Nikita Kucherov | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2023-24 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche |
| 2022-23 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2021-22 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 2020-21 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2019-20 | Leon Draisaitl | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2018-19 | Nikita Kucherov | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2017-18 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2016-17 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
The Edmonton Oilers have now had their players win the Ted Lindsay Award a record 12 times — the most of any franchise in NHL history.
Why the Ted Lindsay Award Matters
Among the many individual awards given out each NHL season — the Hart Trophy, the Art Ross, the Norris — the Ted Lindsay Award holds a special place precisely because of who does the voting. Every other major award is determined by media members, league officials, or some combination thereof.
The Ted Lindsay is different. It is the only NHL award voted on entirely by the players themselves. When McDavid’s peers across 32 NHL teams cast their votes and named him the most outstanding player in the league, they were speaking from the ice — from the battles in the corners, the defensive-zone coverage, and the late-game situations they had lived through against him.
As McDavid himself put it, being recognized by the people you compete against every single night means something different. It is not a stat line. It is a verdict.
About Ted Lindsay: The Man Behind the Trophy
Ted Lindsay played 17 seasons in the NHL, primarily with the Detroit Red Wings. He was a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a 10-time All-Star, and is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most skilled left wings in hockey history. Nicknamed “Terrible Ted” for his ferocious on-ice demeanor, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966.
Beyond his playing accomplishments, Lindsay is remembered for his role in attempting to establish the first NHL Players’ Association in 1957 — an effort that ultimately failed at the time but laid the groundwork for the modern NHLPA that exists today. The award bearing his name is a tribute not just to his talent, but to his courage in standing up for the rights of players across the league.
FAQ: Ted Lindsay Award 2026
Q: Who won the Ted Lindsay Award in 2026? Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers won the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award on June 7, 2026.
Q: How many times has Connor McDavid won the Ted Lindsay Award? McDavid has won the Ted Lindsay Award five times — in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2026.
Q: Who else has won the Ted Lindsay Award five times? Wayne Gretzky is the only other player to win the award five times, doing so in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1987.
Q: Who were the 2026 Ted Lindsay Award finalists? The three finalists were Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), and Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks).
Q: What were Connor McDavid’s stats in the 2025-26 season? McDavid finished the 2025-26 regular season with 48 goals, 90 assists, and 138 points in 82 games, leading the NHL in both points and assists.
Q: How is the Ted Lindsay Award different from the Hart Trophy? The Hart Trophy is voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (media). The Ted Lindsay Award is voted on exclusively by fellow NHLPA members — the players themselves.
Q: What team has won the most Ted Lindsay Awards? The Edmonton Oilers have had their players win the Ted Lindsay Award a record 12 times — the most of any NHL franchise.
Q: How did Connor McDavid find out he won the 2026 Ted Lindsay Award? McDavid was surprised with the award during a golf round at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ontario, by his wife Lauren, his parents Brian and Kelly, his brother Cam, and four childhood friends.
Who do you think was the most deserving of the 2026 Ted Lindsay Award — McDavid, Kucherov, or Celebrini? Drop your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more NHL Awards coverage!