Kucherov named finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award

TORONTO (April 25, 2019) - The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) announced today the three finalists for the 2018-19 Ted Lindsay Award (TLA) are forwards Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. The TLA is presented annually "to the most outstanding player in the NHL," as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Kucherov is a first-time TLA finalist - the sixth consecutive season a finalist has held that distinction. Meanwhile, McDavid has been named as a finalist for a third-straight season after becoming the first player to be voted most outstanding by his peers twice (2016-17, 2017-18) before the age of 22. Kane is seeking his second TLA (2015-16) in four seasons after becoming the only U.S.-born player to receive the award.
The 2018-19 TLA recipient will be announced Wednesday, June 19 during the 2019 NHL Awards presented by Bridgestone. Formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, the TLA will be presented less than four months after the passing of its namesake and NHLPA pioneer, Ted Lindsay.

Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
Kucherov (Russia) played in all 82 regular-season games to help the Presidents' Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning tie a league-best record of 62 wins, while capturing his first Art Ross Trophy. The 25-year-old from Maykop scored a career-high 128 points to set a new single-season scoring record for the most by a Russian-born player, besting Alexander Mogilny's 127 points from 1992-93. Kucherov led the league in multi-point games (38), points per game (1.56) and power-play points (48). His 87 assists also led the league and, in addition to establishing a personal best, tied the single-season record for the most by a winger (Jaromir Jagr, 1995-96). The right-winger's 41 goals were good for a share of second-most on his team and sixth in the league, while his even-strength points (80) placed him in a tie with Kane for second in the NHL. A first-time TLA finalist, Kucherov looks to become the first Lightning player to receive the award since Martin St. Louis (2003-04).