Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov has captured his second Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player, matching his previous MVP achievement from 2019.
The NHL made the announcement Thursday evening ahead of the fifth game of the Stanley Cup Final.
Kucherov dominated the scoring race with an average of 1.71 points per game, recording 44 goals and adding 86 assists throughout the season. His total of 130 points placed him just behind Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, who finished the season with 138 points.
In the voting conducted by Professional Hockey Writers Association members, McDavid finished as the runner-up, trailing by just 10 points. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon claimed third place in the balloting, while San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini rounded out the top four.
The Lightning star significantly outpaced his teammates in offensive production, accumulating 42 more points than Jake Guentzel, the next-highest scorer on Tampa Bay’s roster. Kucherov previously finished third in Hart Trophy consideration last season and placed second in the 2023-24 voting.
