The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday morning the three final candidates for the 2019-2020 Ted Lindsay Award. This kicks off the announcements of the finalists for respective award which will continue throughout this week. This award is given annually to the most outstanding player during the regular season and is voted on by the NHL Players Association.
The three finalists are Leon Driasaitl (EDM), Nathan MacKinnon (COL) and Artemi Panarin (NYR). All three players are looking to win their first Ted Lindsay Award of their NHL careers.
Leon Driasaitl (Edmonton Oilers)
Leon Driasaitl is starting a conversation around the league between him and Connor McDavid as the best player in the league. Over the past two seasons, Driasaitl has put 93 goals and 122 assists for 215 points. He’s managed to put up those numbers while hitting the ice in 153 regular-season games. There’s almost nothing Driasaitl can’t do as he was also winning more than half the draws he would end up taking last season.
Along with being nominated as a finalist for the Lindsay, the 24-year-old center has already won the Art Ross Trophy this season as the NHL’s leading point-getter. There is no question that every year, Driasaitl is always a name that finds its way into the conversation.
Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche)
When you look at players who have played a solid overall game all season, you have to look at Nathan MacKinnon. The Colorado center is a part of the Avalanche’s deadly top line alongside Miko Rantanen and Gabriel Landeskog. The Avalanche relied heavily on MacKinnon this season as Rantanen and Landeskog both dealt with injury bouts.
MacKinnon had 93 points to lead the Avs in the point category by a stretch as Cale Makar came in second as he managed to rack up 50 points on the season. He was also on pace for a career year.
Artemi Panarin (New York Rangers)
The New York Rangers didn’t have many brights spots during the 2019-20 season aside from Panarin. The 28-year-old Russian forward had 32 goals and 63 assists for 95 points in 69 regular season games. There’s no question that when you’re looking at the Rangers rebuild, Panarin is a big part of the offence for the Blueshirts.
Panarin is a player who is going to play a very nifty game and is a magician when it comes to his stick-handling as well as his ability to make highlight-reel plays. This would be Panarin’s second award as he walked away with the Calder Trophy back in 2016.
Who Takes Home The Award?
When you look at all three players, It’s easy to say that Leon Draisaitl will walk away as this season’s Ted Lindsay recipient. When you compare him to the other two finalists, there’s something about Draisaitl that makes his game more special than the other two guys listed. An obvious pointer to support his cause would be that he’s playing alongside Connor McDavid.