Avalanche superstars start their summers off on a terrible note
Photo credit: AP Photo / David Zalubowski
The Colorado Avalanche's dynamic duo, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, made headlines in April when both were named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award.
MacKinnon, who won the honor for the 2023-24 season, was aiming to become only the seventh player in NHL history to claim the award in consecutive years.
Avalanche superstars MacKinnon and Makar both miss out on winning the Ted Lindsay Award.
Trent Finnegan from Denver Sports writes that although it seemed likely the award would return to the Mile High City, the voting didn't go their way. Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov was named the winner on Wednesday.
"The trophy is awarded 'to the most outstanding player in the NHL, as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.' While all other awards are voted by either the Professional Hockey Writers Association or the general managers of the league, this is the only one voted on by the players." -Finnegan
Either MacKinnon or Makar had hopes of returning the trophy to Colorado for a third time, following MacKinnon's 2024 victory and Joe Sakic's win back in 2001.
"MacKinnon put together another career year in 2025 after winning the Hart Memorial Trophy a season ago. With 116 points in 79 games, he led the Avalanche to another 100-point season. While his goal-scoring numbers were way down from his one-of-a-kind year in 2024, it was still his third consecutive year of recording at least 110 points individually. He led the Avalanche in goals in the postseason (7) and was tied for the most assists (4). His 11 points were by far the most out of any player in the burgundy and blue in the playoffs." -Finnegan
Makar remains the frontrunner for the James Norris Memorial Trophy and hopes to add another accolade to his already impressive trophy case. He led all NHL defensemen this season with 92 points, including 30 goals and 62 assists, becoming the first blueliner to hit the 30-goal mark since 2009.
"For Kucherov, this is the second time he's won the award for the Lightning after first doing so in 2019. He also had a phenomenal season with 121 points as he led Tampa Bay to yet another postseason appearance, and the other players around the league thought that he was more deserving of the award than the Colorado duo." -Finnegan
The remaining NHL Awards are set to be revealed on June 12, just ahead of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers.
Makar is considered the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy, while MacKinnon, surprisingly, didn't even make the final cut for the Hart Trophy.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 4 | 39 ANSWERS Avalanche superstars start their summers off on a terrible note Do you think MacKinnon or Makar should have won the Ted Lindsay Award over Kucherov? | ||
| yes | 29 | 74.4 % |
| no | 10 | 25.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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