Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews was named as one of three finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, given to the most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHLPA.
Matthews was joined by Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon. In some ways, it’s a compelling account of what should be the closest races for the most valuable player in years. Matthews was snubbed for the Hart Trophy, as Kucherov, MacKinnon and Connor McDavid were named as the three finalists Monday.
Toronto’s superstar forward recorded 69 goals — the best total in 31 years — and 107 points, while playing at an elite defensive level. Matthews was also nominated for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defensive forward and the Lady Byng Trophy, the league’s most gentlemanly player. He was arguably the NHL’s best all-around forward and was a two-way menace for the Maple Leafs during the regular season.
It’s worth noting that these are regular season awards. Matthews authored the best playoff performance of his career during a Game 2 victory against the Boston Bruins. The 27-year-old was removed from Game 4 with an illness that kept him out of Game 5 and 6, before returning for a pivotal Game 7, where the Maple Leafs were eliminated in a crushing, 2-1 overtime loss. Matthews told reporters during Monday’s end-of-year media availability that he got ‘really, really sick’ after Game 2 then took a ‘weird hit’ during Game 4 while playing with an illness, then didn’t elaborate further on the nature of the ailment.
Matthews previously won the Ted Lindsay Award in 2022, where he also won the Hart Trophy, and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team.
Toronto’s superstar forward authored one of the best offensive campaigns of the modern era and though the playoffs ended in another crushing disappointment, Matthews deserves all the regular season accolades this year.
