Avalanche superstar finally on the verge of claiming long-awaited NHL hardware

MacKinnon was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award but ultimately came up short, with the honour going to Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov.

Dave Benson from Heavy.com writes that according to a recent Bleacher Report column making early predictions for the 2025-26 season, Adam Gretz suggested that MacKinnon is finally poised to capture a trophy that's long eluded him: the Art Ross.

The NHL's coveted scoring title has slipped through his fingers despite consistent elite play, MacKinnon has finished in the top five in points five times and was the runner-up in each of the past two seasons.

MacKinnon has long cemented his place among the NHL's elite, and he began building his trophy case early by winning the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie in 2013-14.

Following the 2019-20 season, he added the Lady Byng Trophy to his resume, honouring his combination of sportsmanship and on-ice excellence. After a dominant 2023-24 campaign, MacKinnon reached new heights, capturing both the Hart Trophy as league MVP and the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the NHL's most outstanding player as voted by his peers.

In a league that's increasingly fuelled by speed, puck possession, and lightning-fast transitions, MacKinnon has become the prototype. He doesn't just lead rushes, he detonates them. And if this season's Avalanche roster can stay healthy and give him the runway he needs, the team's most trophy-hungry forward might be clearing space for yet another piece of hardware.

If the prediction holds true, MacKinnon could finally claim the one major trophy that's eluded him, cementing his legacy with his first-ever Art Ross and firmly etching his name among the NHL's all-time greats.

Source:
Heavy.com
Avalanche Superstar Finally Poised to Snag Elusive Hardware