Kucherov Edges McDavid by 10 Points for Hart Trophy in Closest Vote Since 2002

Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player for the second time on June 11, 2026. He finished 10 points ahead of Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers in the closest vote since 2001-02. Kucherov received 72 first-place votes and 1,436 total points out of 198 ballots cast by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

McDavid collected 68 first-place votes and 1,426 points, appearing in the top five on every ballot. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche placed third with 52 first-place votes and 1,297 points. The 10-point margin marked the third-closest Hart Trophy vote in 30 years.

For the first time since the current points system began in 1995-96, all three finalists received at least 25 percent of first-place votes. Kucherov recorded 44 goals and 86 assists for 130 points in 76 games during the 2025-26 season. 71 points per game, and finished second in total points and assists behind McDavid, who led the league with 138 points and 90 assists in 82 games.

Kucherov ranked eighth in goals and tied for third with a plus-43 rating. Kucherov helped the Lightning finish with 106 points and second place in the Atlantic Division. Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks finished fourth in the voting.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of Kucherov, "One of the great things that makes Kuch 'Kuch' is that he's never satisfied. He could have 50 goals one year, and he wants to score 51 the next year.

He is the third player to go at least seven years between wins, joining Montreal's Jean Beliveau and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby. Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Lightning won the Vezina Trophy for the second time in the 2025-26 season. Jon Cooper won the Jack Adams Award for the first time.