Macklin Celebrini posted 45 goals and 115 points in his sophomore season, nearly doubling his rookie total of 63 points.
MacKinnon’s Prime Window
MacKinnon finished the 2025-26 regular season as a Hart finalist after leading the NHL’s best team in points per game.
At age 30 he remains in peak physical condition and plays on the deepest roster in the league.
Colorado’s 2025 first-round exit gives MacKinnon added motivation to post a career-high point total next year.
His 2023-24 Ted Lindsay win proves he can outproduce McDavid when both are at full strength.
A repeat of that 140-point pace would place MacKinnon ahead of McDavid on the 2026-27 Ted Lindsay ballot.
Kucherov’s Consistency Edge
Kucherov recorded 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points in 2025-26, his second Ted Lindsay win.
The 32-year-old right wing benefits from Tampa Bay’s skill-heavy lineup that keeps his ice time and power-play opportunities elevated.
If McDavid or MacKinnon suffer any injury-related dip, Kucherov’s 1.60 points-per-game rate positions him to claim a third Art Ross Trophy.
His vision and release remain elite, separating him from all but a handful of forwards league-wide.
A fourth Ted Lindsay would confirm Kucherov as the most decorated active non-McDavid candidate.
Celebrini’s Rapid Ascent
Celebrini’s jump from 63 to 115 points in one season marks the largest sophomore leap by any forward since 2010.
At 19 he already earned a Ted Lindsay finalist nod, signaling peer recognition of his generational skill set.
San Jose’s improving supporting cast will supply more secondary scoring and reduce defensive attention on the young center.
Another 20-point gain would push Celebrini past 130 points and into the Art Ross conversation before legal drinking age in most NHL cities.
That trajectory would make him the youngest Ted Lindsay winner in league history.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.