Lightning star Nikita Kucherov snubbed again for Hart Trophy

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 12, 2025

Published in Hockey

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TAMPA, Fla. — For the second straight season, Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov led the league in scoring. And for the second straight season, it wasn’t enough to win the Hart Trophy as the player voted most valuable to his team.

Kucherov, who claimed the scoring title with 121 points, finished a distant third in Hart Trophy voting, which is conducted by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is based on regular-season performance.

In the eyes of the voters, a tremendous season by Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, as well as Oilers center Leon Draisaitl’s 52-goal season, were too much for Kucherov to overcome.

Hellebuyck became the first goaltender to win the Hart since Montreal’s Carey Price claimed the award in 2015, and Draisaitl was the runner-up this year after leading the NHL in goals.

Kucherov received 25 first-place votes among the 191 votes cast. Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon placed fourth and Vegas’ Jack Eichel was fifth.

Hellebuyck also won the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the league’s top goaltender by a vote of the league’s general managers, besting the Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, who finished second.

Hellebuyck received 31 of 32 first-place votes for the Vezina, with Vasilevskiy the only other goaltender to receive a first-place nod.

Kucherov did win the Ted Lindsay Award, which is seen as the “players’ MVP” award because it’s selected by members of the NHL Players’ Association. Kucherov also won the Ted Lindsay in 2019 when he won his first and only Hart Trophy. Kucherov received his third career Art Ross Trophy, which goes to the league’s leading scorer.

Last season, after leading the league with 144 points (and recording 100 assists), Kucherov finished second in Hart voting to MacKinnon.

Earlier in the day, Lightning center Brayden Point finished second for the Lady Byng, which is awarded to the player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.” Point was sixth in the league with 42 goals and recorded just seven penalty minutes, a late-season fight with Toronto’s Bobby McMann taking away from the fact that he committed just one minor penalty all season.

Five Lightning players placed top four in NHL awards voting, with center Anthony Cirelli finishing second for the Selke award (top defensive forward) and defenseman Victor Hedman finishing fourth for the Norris Trophy (top defenseman).

Four Lightning players received NHL All-Star team honors, picked by select members of the PHWA and position specific. Kucherov was named first team at right wing, and Hedman (defenseman), Vasilevskiy (goaltender) and Brandon Hagel (left wing) received second-team honors.