Nikita Kucherov Wins 2026 Hart Trophy over Connor McDavid by just 10 voting points (Getty Images)Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has been named the 2025-26 winner of the Hart Memorial Trophy and is a two-time NHL MVP. Kucherov edged Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid in one of the closest races in recent memory.The award is another testament to a stellar season for Kucherov, who led the Tampa Bay Lightning's offence and joined an elite group of active players with multiple Hart Trophy wins.Nikita Kucherov and Tampa Bay Lightning earn NHL MVP honorNikita Kucherov was named NHL Most Valuable Player, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy after narrowly beating out Connor McDavid in the voting.The Tampa Bay Lightning winger got 1,436 points in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers Association, edging the Edmonton Oilers star by 10 points. Kucherov joined Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin as the only active players with multiple MVP awardsWhy was Nikita Kucherov selected over Connor McDavid?Kucherov gave us one of the best seasons in his career during the 2025-26 season. The 32-year-old scored 130 points, including 44 goals and 86 assists, while averaging an NHL-best 1.71 points per game.He also had his third straight season of 120 points, his 400th career NHL goal and surpassed 1,000 career points. Kucherov had 104 points in an incredible 50-game stretch, the most in a 50-game span since Mario Lemieux in the 1995-96 campaign.Why this Hart Trophy win matters for Tampa Bay LightningKucherov’s value to the Tampa Bay Lightning was highlighted even more as the club dealt with injuries and inconsistency all season.His 130 points were 42 more than any other player on Tampa Bay, underscoring his importance as the engine of the team's offence. Seven years after his first Hart Trophy, Kucherov added another historic achievement and further cemented his place among the greatest players of his generation.Another MVP season in the books, and now it’s a question of whether the Tampa Bay Lightning can put together a roster that can contend for another Stanley Cup.