Nikita Kucherov has been named the 2025-26 Hart Trophy winner, narrowly edging out Connor McDavid for the league MVP honors. Kucherov, who captured the award for the second time in his career, received 1436 points in the voting compared to McDavid’s 1426. The Tampa Bay Lightning star produced a career-high 130 points in 76 games, 42 more than any other Lightning forward.
This is the closest Hart Trophy vote since 2001-02 when Jose Theodore and Jarome Iginla were tied. Kucherov’s win also marks the third time a player has gone seven or more years between Hart Trophy wins, joining Jean Beliveau (8 years) and Sidney Crosby (7 years). The Lightning’s top forward led his team to the Presidents’ Trophy with a 58-14-4 record, outpacing the league in goal differential.
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche came in third with 1297 points. The three-time Hart finalist produced 118 points in 74 games, including 8 game-winning goals. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks followed in fourth with 121 points, while Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens rounded out the top five.
Kucherov’s dominance was clear in some key advanced metrics. He posted a 1.71 points-per-game average, just three-hundredths of a point ahead of McDavid. Kucherov also contributed on 80.75% of Tampa Bay’s goals, outperforming McDavid by a half percentage point. Both players outpaced MacKinnon, who registered a 75.15% point share.
The gap between Kucherov and the next highest scorer on his team was 42 points, while McDavid had a 41-point edge over Leon Draisaitl. Kucherov also led the league in game-winning goals with eight, two more than MacKinnon and four ahead of McDavid.
With the 2025-26 season in the books, the focus now shifts to free agency and the upcoming 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Oilers will look to bounce back after a first-round exit, while the Lightning will aim to defend their championship with one of the most prolific offenses in NHL history.
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