Lester B. Pearson Award
NHL players' choice for most outstanding regular-season player.
The Ted Lindsay Award is presented each year to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player during the regular season, as selected by the members of the NHL Players' Association. Originally called the Lester B. Pearson Award, it was first given out after the 1970–71 season. The award is considered a counterpart to the Hart Memorial Trophy, which is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association for the league's Most Valuable Player. In 2010, the honor was renamed for Detroit Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay.
The award's original name honored Lester B. Pearson, who served as Canada's Prime Minister from 1963 to 1968, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957, and had previously played and coached for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team. On April 29, 2010, the NHL Players' Association announced the change to the Ted Lindsay Award, recognizing Lindsay's skill, tenacity, leadership, and his key role in forming the original Players' Association. Voting takes place at the end of the regular season, conducted by members of the NHLPA.
Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky share the record for most wins, each taking the award five times. Players from the Edmonton Oilers have won it twelve times, while Pittsburgh Penguins players have won it ten times. The Lindsay Award is closely linked to the Hart Trophy; in 35 of the 52 seasons both have been awarded, the same player won both. This has happened 22 different players: Bobby Clarke, Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur (twice), Gretzky (five times), Mario Lemieux (three times), Mark Messier (twice), Brett Hull, Sergei Fedorov, Eric Lindros, Dominik Hasek (twice), Jaromir Jagr, Joe Sakic, Martin St. Louis, Sidney Crosby (three times), Alexander Ovechkin (three times), Evgeni Malkin, Carey Price, Patrick Kane, Connor McDavid (three times), Nikita Kucherov (twice), Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon. Thirteen of those players also won the Art Ross Trophy in the same season, completing a Hart-Pearson/Lindsay-Art Ross sweep a combined 23 times: Esposito, Lafleur (twice), Gretzky (five times), Lemieux (three times), Jagr, St. Louis, Crosby (twice), Ovechkin, Malkin, Kane, McDavid (three times), Kucherov, and Draisaitl. Only goaltenders Dominik Hasek and Carey Price have won both the Hart and Pearson/Lindsay in the same year.
Quick Facts
- Sport
- Ice hockey
- Givenfor
- National Hockey League's outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association
- First
- 1971–72 NHL season
- Firstwinner
- Phil Esposito
- Mostwins
- Wayne Gretzky & Connor McDavid (5)
- Mostrecent
- Connor McDavid / Edmonton Oilers
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The award was first handed out at the conclusion of the 1970–71 NHL season. It was named in honour of Lester B. Pearson, who was Prime Minister of Canada from 1963 to 1968, the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize, and a former player and coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's ice hockey team. On April 29, 2010, the National Hockey League Players' Association announced that the award would be reintroduced as the Ted Lindsay Award to honor Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay for his skill, tenacity, leadership, and role in establishing the original Players' Association. The voting for the trophy is conducted at the end of the regular season by the members of the NHL Players Association.
Reader's Guide
The Lester B. Pearson Award, now the Ted Lindsay Award, holds significance as the only major NHL trophy voted on exclusively by the players themselves. It is considered a companion to the Hart Memorial Trophy, and the two have been won by the same player for the same season 35 times across 52 seasons. Notable sweeps include the Hart, Pearson/Lindsay, and Art Ross Trophy by players such as Phil Esposito, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Connor McDavid. Only two goaltenders—Dominik Hasek and Carey Price—have won both the Hart and Pearson/Lindsay in the same year, and Bobby Orr is the only defenceman to win the Pearson/Lindsay, doing so in 1974–75 while also winning the Norris and Art Ross. The award's legacy includes multiple winners who also led the league in goals, with Brett Hull, Alexander Ovechkin, and Auston Matthews achieving this without winning the Art Ross.
Did You Know?
- It was renamed the Ted Lindsay Award on April 29, 2010.
- Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky have each won the award a record five times.
More in NHL Trophies and Awards 1-24
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