…Kane becomes first U.S.-born player to receive Award

LAS VEGAS/TORONTO (June 22, 2016) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced today that Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks is the 2015-16 recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award, presented annually to the “Most Outstanding Player” in the NHL as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA.

Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars and Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals were selected by the members of the NHLPA as finalists for the 2015-16 Ted Lindsay Award.

In the 45th season of the “Most Outstanding Player” award being been presented, Kane becomes the first ever U.S.-born player to receive the Ted Lindsay Award as well as the first recipient in Blackhawks’ franchise history.

The 2015-16 Ted Lindsay Award was presented during the 2016 NHL Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

In the 2015-16 NHL regular season, Kane led the league in points (106) to also earn his first Art Ross Trophy. He finished first in points-per-game (1.29), first in power-play points (37), second in goals (46), tied for second in power-play goals (17), tied for second in game-winning goals (9), and ranked third in assists (60). Kane’s totals in goals, assists and points all set career highs. He helped lead the Blackhawks to the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

The Ted Lindsay Award is the only award voted on by the players themselves, carrying on the tradition established by the Lester B. Pearson Award since 1970-71. The Award honours Ted Lindsay, an All-Star forward known for his skill, tenacity, leadership, and for his role in establishing the original Players' Association.

“MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER” AWARD RECIPIENTS:

LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD

• 1970-71 Phil Esposito
• 1971-72 Jean Ratelle
• 1972-73 Bobby Clarke
• 1973-74 Phil Esposito
• 1974-75 Bobby Orr
• 1975-76 Guy Lafleur
• 1976-77 Guy Lafleur
• 1977-78 Guy Lafleur
• 1978-79 Marcel Dionne
• 1979-80 Marcel Dionne
• 1980-81 Mike Liut
• 1981-82 Wayne Gretzky
• 1982-83 Wayne Gretzky
• 1983-84 Wayne Gretzky
• 1984-85 Wayne Gretzky
• 1985-86 Mario Lemieux
• 1986-87 Wayne Gretzky
• 1987-88 Mario Lemieux
• 1988-89 Steve Yzerman
• 1989-90 Mark Messier
• 1990-91 Brett Hull
• 1991-92 Mark Messier
• 1992-93 Mario Lemieux
• 1993-94 Sergei Fedorov
• 1994-95 Eric Lindros
• 1995-96 Mario Lemieux
• 1996-97 Dominik Hasek
• 1997-98 Dominik Hasek
• 1998-99 Jaromir Jagr
• 1999-00 Jaromir Jagr
• 2000-01 Joe Sakic
• 2001-02 Jarome Iginla
• 2002-03 Markus Naslund
• 2003-04 Martin St. Louis
• 2005-06 Jaromir Jagr
• 2006-07 Sidney Crosby
• 2007-08 Alexander Ovechkin
• 2008-09 Alexander Ovechkin

TED LINDSAY AWARD

• 2009-10 Alexander Ovechkin
• 2010-11 Daniel Sedin
• 2011-12 Evgeni Malkin
• 2012-13 Sidney Crosby
• 2013-14 Sidney Crosby
• 2014-15 Carey Price

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