Lightning star Nikita Kucherov wins MVP trophy over Connor McDavid in closest vote in 24 years
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Nikita Kucherov was named the 2025-26 NHL MVP, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy in the closest race in over 20 years, narrowly beating Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
- Kucherov received 1,436 points and 72 first-place votes, just ahead of McDavid's 1,426 points and 68 first-place votes, with MacKinnon close behind at 1,297 points and 52 first-place votes.
- This marks Kucherov's second Hart Trophy, having previously won in 2018-19, and is notable as the first time in 30 years that three players each received at least a quarter of all first-place votes.
- San Jose Sharks' 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini finished fourth and showed promise for future awards, while Canadiens center Nick Suzuki also received one first-place vote.
- Despite Kucherov's strong regular season performance leading the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record, Tampa Bay was eliminated in the first round by Montreal; however, the Lightning also saw Andrei Vasilevskiy win the Vezina Trophy and Jon Cooper earn the Jack Adams Award.