Celebrini ranked fourth overall in the NHL and established a new San Jose Sharks franchise record by accumulating 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) across 82 contests. During his sophomore NHL campaign, the 19-year-old pivot registered a point in 60 of his games this year, notably achieving three or more points in 18 matchups and at least four points in five different games. He also contributed 33 points on the power play and scored five game-winning goals, helping the Sharks finish with an improved record of 39-35-8 for 86 points, a significant jump from their 20 wins and 52 points the previous season.
Celebrini winning the award would mark the first time a San Jose Sharks player has claimed this prestigious honor.
Nikita Kucherov finished second in NHL scoring, accumulating 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) over 76 games played for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 32-year-old forward topped the league with an impressive 1.71 points-per-game average. His plus-43 rating placed him in a tie for third best across the entire NHL, and he recorded at least one point in 60 of his 76 appearances, with 40 of those being multi-point efforts. He also managed nine games where he scored four or more points, including two instances of five-point performances. Kucherov’s most productive period occurred between December 20th and January 12th, during which he tallied 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in just 10 games.
Kucherov previously secured the Ted Lindsay Award last season, having led the NHL in scoring with 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists). This marks Kucherov’s fourth nomination as a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, making it his third consecutive season, with an additional win in the 2018-19 campaign. He spearheaded the Lightning in goals, assists, and total points, guiding Tampa Bay to a second-place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 50-26-5 standing.
Connor McDavid, who topped the NHL’s scoring chart with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists), is a four-time recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award (2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21, 2022-23) and is now a finalist for an impressive seventh occasion. A fifth victory would place him alongside Wayne Gretzky as the sole players to achieve this feat. This season, he recorded points in 68 of his 82 appearances, featuring 43 multi-point performances, and seven outings with at least four points, three of which were five-point efforts. The 29-year-old center, also the Oilers’ captain, compiled 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) during an exceptional 20-game point streak stretching from December 4th to January 13th. He spearheaded the Oilers in goals, assists, and overall points, contributing to Edmonton’s second-place standing in the Pacific Division with a 41-30-11 record.