NEW YORK – Right wing Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning is the 2025-26 recipient of the Hart Memorial Trophy, presented “to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” as selected by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
A journey that involved planes, automobiles and jet skis, Kucherov was surprised with the trophy by Phil Pritchard, the Keeper of the Cup.
A Hart Trophy finalist for the third consecutive season (3rd in 2024-25 and 2nd in 2023-24), the 32-year-old Kucherov claimed his second career win and first since 2018-19. He becomes the third player to go seven-plus years between Hart Trophy wins, joining Jean Beliveau (eight years, 1955-56 and 1963-64) and Sidney Crosby (seven years, 2006-07 and 2013-14).
Kucherov emerged as the winner of an epic three-way Hart Trophy balloting race featuring a trio of former winners of the award – Kucherov, Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon – who had combined to win it five times in the eight-season span from 2016-17 through 2023-24. For the first time since the current points allocation system was established in 1995-96, all three finalists received at least 25 percent of all first-place votes.
The Tampa Bay right wing was a top-five selection on 196 of 198 ballots and received 72 first-place votes in collecting 1,436 points to post a razon-thin margin of victory – 10 voting points – over McDavid, who appeared as a top-five pick on all 198 ballots, including 68 first-place votes, for 1,426 points. MacKinnon was listed on 195 ballots in collecting 52 first-place votes and 1,297 points for third place. Kucherov’s winning margin of 10 points is the third-fewest in the 30 years under the current points allocation: Jose Theodore edged Jarome Iginla in a tiebreak (434-434, Theodore placed first with more first-place votes) in 2001-02 and Chris Pronger eked past Jaromir Jagr 396-395 in 1999-2000.
Kucherov finished second in the NHL with 44-86—130 in 76 games – 42 points more than his closest teammate (Jake Guentzel: 38-50—88 in 81 GP) – to power the Lightning to their ninth straight playoff berth. Kucherov’s 42-point edge was the second-largest gap between a team’s top two scorers in 2025-26, trailing just the 56-point difference between Macklin Celebrini (45-70—115 in 82 GP) and Will Smith (24-35—59 in 69 GP) of the San Jose Sharks. Kucherov, who found the scoresheet in 60 of his 76 appearances (78.9%), additionally ranked among the League leaders in points per game (1st; 1.71), even-strength assists (1st; 57), multi-assist performances (t-1st; 25), assists (2nd; 86), even-strength points (2nd; 92), multi-point performances (2nd; 40), plus/minus (t-3rd; +43), even-strength goals (4th; 35), power-play assists (4th; 29), multi-goal performances (t-4th; 8), power-play points (6th; 37), game-winning goals (t-7th; 8) and goals (8th; 44). Kucherov, who totaled 44-100—144 in 2023-24 (81 GP), became the 10th player in League history to produce multiple 130-point seasons. He also became the 17th-fastest player in NHL history to reach both the 1,000-point (809 GP on Oct. 25 vs. ANA) and 1,100-point (863 GP on March 12 vs. DET) milestones.
