Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon named NHL's MVP

• He was also awarded the Ted Lindsay Award as the most outstanding player in the league, based on votes by fellow players of the NHL Players' Association.

Why it matters: This marks MacKinnon's first time winning either honor.

What they're saying: "It's the consistency in his preparation," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said in May when MacKinnon was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy.

• He "takes care of his game first. But there's no question that his leadership has evolved over the eight years that I've been with him," he added.

By the numbers: The 28-year-old led the Avalanche in goals, assists and points. He ended this past season with a career-high 51 goals and ranked second in the league with 140 points in 82 games, according to the NHL.

Flashback: MacKinnon steered the team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs earlier this year, though they were eliminated in May by the Dallas Stars during a 2-1 double-overtime loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round.

• MacKinnon was also key to the Avs winning the Stanley Cup in 2022, the first time the team won a Cup in more than 20 years.