Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov captured the second Hart Trophy of his career, the NHL announced on Thursday.
The Hart Trophy is awarded annually to the player most valuable to his team as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Kucherov, 32, narrowly beat out Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid by four first-place votes and 10 voting points in the third-slimmest margin in NHL history.
Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon finished third in voting while San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini and Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki also received first-place votes.
Kucherov led the Lightning with 44 goals and 130 points in 76 games this season.
His 130 points was the second most of his career. He previously recorded 44 goals and 140 points during the 2023-24 season.
Kucherov helped the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record to finish second in the Atlantic Division and made the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
The 6-foot winger added a goal and six points in seven playoff games before his team was eliminated in the first round.
Kucherov previously won the Hart Trophy in 2019 after registering 41 goals and 128 points in 82 games. He now becomes the fifth winger to win the trophy multiple times in NHL history, joining Alexander Ovechkin, Bill Cowley, Bobby Hull, and Guy Lafleur.
Winnipeg Jets netminder Conner Hellebuyck took home the Hart Trophy last season after he went 47-12-3 with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
