Connor McDavid added another milestone to his remarkable career after capturing a record fifth Ted Lindsay Award, and the honor has only strengthened the case for him to take home the Hart Memorial Trophy later this month.
The Edmonton Oilers captain was voted the NHL‘s most outstanding player by his peers after another dominant regular season. McDavid led the league with 138 points, claimed the Art Ross Trophy, and once again proved why he remains hockey’s standard bearer. This was his 9th 100-point season.
Speaking on Jay On SC, former NHL defenseman Frank Corrado revealed McDavid was his first choice on his Hart ballot.
“I do. Connor McDavid was my first vote for the Hart,” Corrado said. “And I think it’s deserving that he wins the Ted Lindsay for a fifth time.”
MORE: Oilers face backlash after Connor McDavid wins 5th Ted Lindsay Award
Corrado pointed to a stretch during the season when Nathan MacKinnon appeared to be closing the gap in the MVP race before McDavid elevated his game even further.
“And it’s almost like he heard that chatter,” Corrado said. “He heard that noise and he said, “All right. I hear what everyone’s saying.” And then he turned up the heat, and all of a sudden McDavid just took off, and he took his game to another level, a level that we thought Connor McDavid already had achieved.”
Connor McDavid’s value extended beyond the scoresheet
McDavid’s numbers alone make a compelling Hart case. He finished with 48 goals and 90 assists while appearing in all 82 games. His 138 points were eight more than the next closest challenger, and he remained the engine behind Edmonton’s offense throughout the season.
The strongest argument for McDavid, however, centers on value. When Leon Draisaitl missed time late in the year, McDavid carried an even heavier workload. He produced 13 points in seven April games and continued driving play at an elite level, posting a 56.0 percent expected-goals share. He had three hat-trick games this season, showing his offensive dominance.
The Hart Trophy is awarded for regular-season value, not playoff success. Edmonton’s disappointing first-round exit against the Anaheim Ducks should have no impact on the voting.
“I had him number one on my Hart ballot,” Corrado said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people that did as well. Maybe it’s going to be a little bit of a tighter race.
“But when the players vote for something like this, it should speak volumes because these are the guys that are playing against him night in and night out. We watch it, the players feel it, and there’s a difference between the two, and the players have spoken.”
What it means for Edmonton going forward?
McDavid’s likely Hart victory would arrive during a pivotal period for the Oilers. Despite another historic season from their captain, structural flaws undermined the team. Goaltending instability, defensive inconsistency, and a lack of depth ultimately ended their Stanley Cup hopes early.
That reality makes McDavid’s individual performance even more impressive. Edmonton leaned heavily on its captain to generate offense and dictate play. Few players in the league carry a larger share of their team’s success.
But this is not a good thing for a team with Stanley Cup hopes. History has shown that only well-balanced teams are able to get to the top and lift Lord Stanley, for example, the Florida Panthers. They did not have a single superstar; they had good players. So, the Oilers’ management will have to add good players to support McDavid and Draisaitl.
The team is already good, but they will have to improve their defense and goaltending as soon as possible.
MORE: âBig Turnoverâ: Connor McDavid reacts to changing NHL balance after Oilersâ playoff exit
Meanwhile, MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov both delivered MVP-caliber campaigns, but McDavid combined elite production, durability, and team impact in a way that remains unmatched. The Ted Lindsay Award reflects how players view his dominance. The Hart Trophy voters now have a chance to reach the same conclusion.
