The Colorado Avalanche made history as the Ted Lindsay Award finalists were announced

The Colorado Avalanche duo of Nathan MackInnon and Cale Makar made history once again, becoming the first pair of teammates to be nominated as finalists for the Ted Lindsay award since the award was renamed

BY TRENT FINNEGAN

Apr 30, 2025, 10:44 AM Updated: 12:21 pm

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The superstar duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar for the Colorado Avalanche made history once again, as they were both named finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday. Since the award was renamed as the Ted Lindsay Award before the 2009-10 season (originally the Lester B. Pearson Award), this is the first instance in which two players from the same team were named as finalists.

This trophy is awarded “to the most outstanding player 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. With the Colorado duo taking two of the three spots, it’s clear that they have the respect of the rest of the league.

The third finalist is Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

As voted on by their fellow players, former recipients Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon join first-time finalist Cale Makar as the 2024-25 finalists for the #TedLindsayAward.

More: https://t.co/3Ia8FV5Mbr #NHLAwards pic.twitter.com/mJqCJqTpVd

— NHLPA (@NHLPA) April 30, 2025

MacKinnon is the reigning winner of the award, while Kucherov brought it home in 2019.

Makar was recently named as one of three finalists for the James Norris Memorial Trophy as he hopes to build on his wealthy trophy collection in his sixth year in the NHL. He led all defensemen in points (92), goals (30) and assists (62) this season, and also became the first defenseman to score 30 goals in a season since 2009. On top of that, this was his second consecutive season tallying at least 90 points, making him just the sixth defenseman in the history of the league to hit that mark at least two times.

For MacKinnon, who is also the reigning winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy, he put together another career year in 2025. 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 is currently tied for first place in the NHL playoffs in goals scored through five games.

“I think [MacKinnon] should probably win it again this year… but it’s a cool vindication from other guys in the league and what they see, and definitely makes you feel pretty good about yourself,” Makar said at Avalanche practice on Wednesday.

This duo had a phenomenal regular season for Colorado, but now find themselves with their backs against the wall down 3-2 to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Puck drop for Game 6 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from Ball Arena on Thursday.