Nikita Kucherov wins Lindsay Award as top player as judged by his peers

Eduardo A. Encina, Tampa Bay Times on Jun 4, 2025

Published in Hockey

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TAMPA, Fla. — Inside the Lightning dressing room, there was no doubt Nikita Kucherov was the NHL’s most valuable player this season. This week, the star right winger received the ultimate endorsement from his peers across the league, winning the Ted Lindsay Award.

Commonly known as the “players’ MVP,” the Lindsay is the only award selected by the NHL Players’ Association. While the Hart Trophy (voted on by select members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association) is widely regarded as the league’s MVP award, the Lindsay is chosen by those who share the ice with the winner.

Kucherov finished ahead of fellow finalists and Colorado teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

This is the second time Kucherov has received the award. He previously won in 2019, when he also took the Hart and Art Ross Trophy, which goes to the league’s top point scorer.

Kucherov was a finalist for the Lindsay and Hart last season after leading the league with a career-best 144 points, but both awards went to MacKinnon.

Kucherov had an NHL-high 121 points this season, including a league-best 84 assists. He joined Edmonton’s Connor McDavid as the only players to win scoring titles in consecutive seasons since Pittsburgh’s Jaromir Jagr did so four straight times from 1997-98 to 2000-01.

Marty St. Louis, who won the Lindsay in 2004, is the only other Lightning player to receive the honor.

“What Nikita Kucherov does in the NHL, he makes it look really easy,” Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois said during end-of-season interviews. “The level of difficulty is incredibly high. That’s why no one else plays like him. That’s why no one else produces like he does.”

Kucherov led the league in points per game (1.55), primary assists (56), power-play points (46) and power-play assists (38). He placed third among right wingers in average ice time at 21:11.

All despite playing through a left hand extensor injury since late February.

“You still get in awe sometimes just watching what he does on the ice and the plays he makes and the stuff he sees,” first-year teammate Jake Guentzel said at the end of the season. “It was unbelievable for me just to be able to have communication with him, and he helped me in a lot of ways this year that I never thought of.”

The Lightning surprised Kucherov with news of the award while he was training Monday at TGH Ice Plex in Brandon.

In a video posted Wednesday to the NHL’s social media accounts, BriseBois calls Kucherov into his office. If he wins a league award, BriseBois asks Kucherov, would he prefer to accept the trophy at the NHL Awards ceremony this month in Los Angeles or have it sent to him in Tampa?

“What trophy?” Kucherov asks.

“Well, if you win one,” BriseBois responds.

“Which is none,” quips Kucherov, who indicates he’d rather not travel.

When Kucherov leaves BriseBois’ office, Lightning captain Victor Hedman, along with several other teammates and staff members are in the room waiting for him. As he enters, they chant, “Kuuuch.”

Kucherov, clearly surprised, smiles as Hedman presents him with the award.

“Without you guys, I wouldn’t have this,” Kucherov tells the group. “So, thanks a lot to all of you and the rest of the guys. It really means a lot to me.”