Lightning's Nikita Kucherov wins the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, his second such honor
TAMPA, FL - MAY 3: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena on May 3, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mar
NEW YORK - Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, the second such honor of his career after also winning the Hart in 2019.
The league announced the news Thursday prior to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.
Kucherov led all players with 1.71 points a game on 44 goals and 86 assists. With 130 points, he ranked second to only Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who had 138.
McDavid was a close second by 10 points in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon was third and San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini fourth.
Kucherov had 42 more points than his next-closest teammate, Jake Guentzel. He was third in Hart Trophy voting a year ago and second in 2023-24.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by the Associated Press.