Nathan MacKinnon is a top contender to challenge Connor McDavid for the No. 1 player honor in the 2026-27 season.
What happened?
McDavid led the league in scoring and played all 82 games, winning the 2025-26 Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player.
Why it matters for Nathan MacKinnon
Nathan MacKinnon, who won the Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy in 2023-24, could surge once again next season and finish with more points than McDavid.
At 30 years old, MacKinnon is in his prime and benefits from playing on the deepest team in the league.
What comes next?
If MacKinnon shakes off the disappointment of Colorado's post-season performance and comes back with his best effort yet, nobody should be surprised.
The Hockey News had McDavid back on top this year, but every season is different, and just because McDavid's individual career accomplishments are arguably more outstanding than any other in the league right now doesn't mean someone else can have a better campaign next year.
Nikita Kucherov and Macklin Celebrini are also contenders to challenge McDavid for the top spot.
Kucherov won the Ted Lindsay for the first time in 2018-19, then again in the 2024-25 campaign, and had another banner season this year, putting up 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points.
Celebrini, a 19-year-old center, may be too young to be crowned the best, but he has the potential to be a top player in the future.
The 2026-27 season will be an exciting one, with several players vying for the top spot, including Nathan MacKinnon, who will look to reclaim the No. 1 spot he held in 2024-25