2025-26 NHL Award Winners: Full List of All Major Honorees
Nikita Kucherov has been named the 2025-26 NHL Most Valuable Player, winning the Hart Memorial Trophy for the second time in his career. The Tampa Bay Lightning superstar topped a star-studded list of honorees at the 2026 NHL Awards.Kucherov edged out Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in a very close vote to claim his second Hart Trophy.
The Russian forward posted an impressive 130 points in just 76 games, leading the Lightning to another strong season and their ninth consecutive playoff berth.
2025-26 NHL Award Winners – Complete List
Here is the full list of major award recipients for the 2025-26 NHL season:
Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP): Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player): Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers)
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender): Andrei Vasilevskiy (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman): Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Matthew Schaefer (New York Islanders)
Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward): Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens)
Lady Byng Trophy (Sportsmanship): Cole Caufield (Montreal Canadiens)
Bill Masterton Trophy (Perseverance): Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche)
Mark Messier Leadership Award: Gabriel Landeskog (Colorado Avalanche)
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year): Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Kucherov Dominates Hart Trophy Race
Kucherov finished the season with 130 points and led the league in points per game (1.71). He beat McDavid by just 10 points in the final voting tally, making it one of the tightest MVP races in recent NHL history.This victory marks his second Hart Trophy, following his first win in the 2018-19 season. The Lightning also enjoyed major success on awards night, with Andrei Vasilevskiy taking home the Vezina Trophy and head coach Jon Cooper winning the Jack Adams Award.
Standout Performances Across the League
The Montreal Canadiens had a strong showing with Nick Suzuki winning the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward and Cole Caufield earning the Lady Byng Trophy for his sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct.Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche earned dual recognition, winning both the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance and the Mark Messier Leadership Award. New York Islanders prospect Matthew Schaefer was named Rookie of the Year after an outstanding debut season, while Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets claimed the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman.
Tampa Bay Lightning’s Award Haul
The Lightning had one of the biggest nights, collecting three major awards (Hart, Vezina, and Jack Adams). This highlights the continued excellence of their core group and coaching staff heading into the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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