Lightning F Nikita Kucherov wins second Hart Trophy

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th June, 20:27 2026

Apr 26, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) plays with a puck during warm-up before the game against the Montreal Canadiens in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov won his second Hart Trophy on Thursday, nearly a decade after he won his first.

Kucherov previously won the award, given to the player voted most valuable to their team by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, in 2018-19. He's the third player with a seven-plus-year gap between Hart Trophy wins, joining Sidney Crosby and Jean Beliveau.

He finished the regular season second with 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists). He played in 76 games, finishing atop the league in points per game (1.71).

A Hart Trophy finalist for the third straight year, Kucherov edged out Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid -- who led the league with 136 points and has won the Hart Trophy three times -- by 10 points in the closest vote since 2001-02. Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon finished third.

"Thanks for this honor. Just really grateful for my teammates, coaches, my family," Kucherov said when he was surprised with the award by Keeper of the Cup Phil Pritchard at Tampa Bay's practice facility. "This means a lot."

Kucherov, 32, has tallied 1,124 points -- 10th among active players -- with 401 goals and 723 assists in 879 career games with the Lightning (2013-26).

--Field Level Media

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