We've often written about the Oilers' success being favourably compared to the rest of the NHL since they entered the league in 1979-80. This includes being tied with the Penguins for the most Stanley Cup wins at five, and standing alone at the top in respect of having played in the Final eight times.
This prolific level of success extends to the individual accomplishments of players. This includes being second when it comes to most Art Ross Trophies at 13, and tied-second with the Bruins with the same number of Hart Memorial Trophies.
Well, it turns out that the Oilers are also extremely successful when it comes to players winning the Ted Lindsay Award (formerly the Lester B. Pearson Award), which is handed out annually to the most outstanding player during the regular season, as voted for by the players. (The only NHL trophy which is.) As per NHL.com, first awarded in 1970-1971, here are five things to know, for Oilers fans both old and new alike:
1) Top dog yet again
As with the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies, Wayne Gretzky also has the most Ted Lindsay Awards in NHL history, with five. This includes the record for most consecutive seasons of winning it, four times between 1981-82 and 1984-85, with his other Ted Lindsay Award coming in 1986-87. On three of the five occasions Gretzky also helped the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, in 1983-84, 1984-85 and 1986-87.
2) Another Oilers legend
While Gretzky is undoubtedly the best player in Oilers history, Mark Messier is right behind him. As with the Hart Memorial trophy, he took home the Ted Lindsay Award in 1989-90, in a special season where he led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup sans Gretzky. Messier would win the Ted Lindsay Award again after he left Edmonton, in 1991-92 as a member of the Rangers.
3) Second best, but for how long?
As with the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies, Connor McDavid is also second-best to Gretzky when it comes to Ted Lindsay Award. Unlike those however, he is on the verge of catching the Great One when it comes to the Ted Lindsay Award, having so far won four, in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2020-21 and 2022-23. These four awards have McDavid tied second all-time, with Penguins legend Mario Lemieux.
4) A very rare treat
The 2019-20 season truly was a special season for Leon Draisaitl, with him becoming the first German to ever win the Art Ross and Hart Memorial trophies. And wouldn't you know it, he completed the hat-trick by also winning the Ted Lindsay Award. The regular season might have been cut short due to the lockdown caused by COVID-19, but this takes nothing away from what Draisaitl achieved, made more special by doing it on a team containing McDavid.
5) Top of the heap
As a team, the Oilers have won the Ted Lindsay Award an impressive 11 times. This doubles as the most of any team in NHL history, with the Penguins second on 10 and the Canadiens third with four. You get the feeling the Oilers have more to come in the very near future, while McDavid is still suiting up in Edmonton.
General notes
In total, the Ted Lindsay Award has been won 53 different times by 17 of the NHL's 32 teams. Individually speaking, Guy Lafleur, Jaromir Jagr, Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are all tied-fourth best for the most Ted Lindsay Awards, with three apiece. Overall, 31 different players have taken home the award.