Matthews of Maple Leafs wins Ted Lindsay Award

Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Ted Lindsay Award, given annually to the most outstanding player in the NHL as voted by members of the NHL Players’ Association, at the 2022 NHL Awards on Tuesday.

He is the first Maple Leafs player to win the award.

“I think it’s a tremendous honor to wear the blue and white and represent the city of Toronto and wear the Maple Leaf every night,” Matthews said. “The guys that have come before us and just the history that’s embarked on this organization, it means a lot. So any time you get your name mentioned in history in an organization like that, it’s definitely pretty special and something I don’t take for granted.”

Matthews led the NHL with 60 goals, the most in Maple Leafs history and the most by a United States-born player in League history. He was the first to score that many since Steven Stamkos scored 60 for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2011-12.

Matthews is the second United States-born player to win the Ted Lindsay Award and first since Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane in 2015-16.

“I know from my perspective [Kane] was my guy growing up and he’s still one of my favorite guys to watch today,” Matthews said. “So I’m sure there’s younger kids that look at me probably the same way I looked at him. It’s pretty cool and special to think about that and just realize the impact we have as players on people and the younger generation coming up.”

Matthews tied Stamkos for sixth in the NHL with 106 points in 73 games, was first with 348 shots on goal, and was fifth with 10 game-winning goals. The center also scored 16 power-play goals and was plus-20 while averaging 20:37 of ice time per game.

Matthews helped Toronto (54-21-7), which earned the most wins and points (115) in its history and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the sixth straight season.

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, who won the Ted Lindsay Award last season, and Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi, were the other finalists for the award.

Matthews also won the Hart Trophy voted NHL most valuable player by the Professional Hockey Writers Association (McDavid and New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin were the other finalists) and was named to the NHL First All-Star Team.

“It’s nice. I can’t lie,” Mathews said. “It feels really good. It’s special to have my family here with me. A lot of great players in that room, a lot of really deserving guys. Definitely pretty special.”

NHL.com staff writer Tom Gulitti contributed to this report