Lightning strikes twice: Kucherov wins 2nd MVP

June 11, 2026 No Comments

Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov wins second Hart Trophy as NHL MVPESPN News ServicesMultiple AuthorsJun 11, 2026, 07:42 PM ET

Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP for the second time on Thursday.

He finished 10 points ahead of Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, a three-time winner, in the closest Hart Trophy vote since 2001-02.

Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon was third in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It was the first time under the current system that all three finalists received at least 25% of first-place votes.

Difference maker. pic.twitter.com/k3ev4CVEm6

— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 11, 2026

Kucherov, who first won the award in 2019, had 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points this season — including 104 points in a 50-game span and 42 more than his closest teammate — and led the NHL with 1.71 points per game.

The 130 points ranked second in the league to McDavid (138).

Kucherov was third in Hart Trophy voting a year ago and second in 2023-24. He became the third player to go seven-plus years between Hart Trophy wins, joining Jean Beliveau (8 years) and Sidney Crosby (7 years).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.