The 2019-20 TLA recipient will be announced during the Conference Finals (exact date TBD). Formerly known as the Lester B. Pearson Award, the TLA honours its namesake and NHLPA pioneer, Ted Lindsay.

The three TLA finalists received the most votes from their fellow players based on their 2019-20 regular-season campaigns, and are listed in alphabetical order as follows:

Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Draisaitl played in all 71 of Edmonton’s regular-season games as he helped lead the Oilers to the fifth-best points percentage in the Western Conference. The 24-year-old forward of Germany (Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia) led the NHL in points per game (1.55), assists (67), power-play points (44) and average ice time among forwards (22:37), while he tied for first in game-winning goals (10). Draisaitl topped all scorers with 110 points – the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy. He also finished second in both even-strength points (66) and power-play goals (16), and he placed fourth in goals (43) on the season. Draisaitl is looking to become the first German recipient of the TLA, and follow teammate Connor McDavid’s back-to-back awards (2017-18, 2018-19) to extend the run of consecutive Oilers recipients to three.

Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon played in 69 of Colorado’s 70 regular-season games to help the Avalanche secure the second-best regular-season points percentage in the Western Conference. The 24-year-old forward of Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia) paced all NHL players in shots on goal (318). His 93 points ranked fifth in league scoring, 43 points ahead of his closest teammate. MacKinnon placed third in even-strength points (62), fourth in power-play points (31) and tied for fifth in points per game (1.35). A model of offensive consistency, he has scored at least 35 goals and 90 points while also recording exactly 58 assists for three seasons in a row. Now a two-time TLA finalist, MacKinnon looks to join Joe Sakic (2000-01) as the second Avalanche player to receive the award.

Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers

Panarin played in 69 of New York’s 70 regular-season games while he helped lead the Rangers to a place in the Qualifying Round after tying for the fifth-most standings points (37) since Jan. 1. The 28-year-old forward of Russia (Korkino, Chelyabinsk Oblast) led all NHL players in even-strength points (71), tied for second in assists (63), tied for third in points (95 points) and placed third in points per game (1.38). He twice recorded point streaks of at least 12 games in 2019-20 (19 points in 12 GP, Oct. 24 – Nov. 20; 19 points in 13 GP, Feb. 7 – March 1). Panarin is the first Rangers player to be voted as a finalist since Henrik Lundqvist (2011-12), and he is looking to become the first Rangers recipient in 14 years (Jaromir Jagr in 2005-06).