The NHL has announced that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov is a finalist for this year's Hart Memorial Trophy. The other two players in the running are Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
The Hart Memorial Trophy is awarded annually "to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team."
When looking at how spectacular of a regular-season Kucherov had, it is understandable that he has been named a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy. The 31-year-old forward scored 37 goals and led the NHL with 121 points in 78 games with the Lightning. With this, he has won the Art Ross Trophy for the second year in a row and is also a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award.
Kucherov previously won the Hart Trophy in 2019, when he posted 41 goals, 128 points, and a plus-24 rating in 82 games. It will now be interesting to see if he wins his second career Hart from here. Given how excellent he played this season, he undoubtedly has a great chance to.
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