Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov beats MacKinnon, McDavid for 2nd Hart trophy

In one of the closest votes in over two decades, the Hart Trophy has a winner, and once again, the recipient is Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.

Kucherov, who tallied 44 goals with 86 assists for 130 total points in the 2025-26 NHL Season, beat out Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid for the award by a mere 10 points, making it the closest vote since Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore edged out Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla for the award in 2002.

Kucherov wins the Hart Trophy over Connor McDavid by 10 points,” wrote Sportsnet Stats on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is the closest Hart Trophy vote since 2001-02 when Jose Theodore tied Jarome Iginla on points (Theodore had more 1st place votes).

Kucherov led the Lightning to yet another appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but was unfortunately unable to guide them past the Eastern Conference Final for the fourth consecutive season; their campaign was ended by the upstart Montreal Canadiens, who defeated them in seven games.

This is Kucherov’s second occasion winning the award, and first time since the 2018-19 NHL season in which he amassed 128 points. Selected by the Lightning in the second round (58th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Kucherov has become one of the top talents in the League and played a key role in Tampa’s back to back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021.

So far in his NHL career, Kucherov has scored 401 goals with 723 assists in 879 games. He’s also added 54 goals and 123 assists in 159 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.

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