Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov was recently named the NHL’s First Star of the Week from March 24-30. He joins Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz and Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who were named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for that week.
The Lightning also benefited from Kucherov’s spectacular play, winning all three of their games during the week and heading into Thursday’s (April 3) contest against the Ottawa Senators on a four-game winning streak. With this, they have a 43-25-5 record and have jumped to second place in the Atlantic Division standings.
Now, Kucherov’s outstanding play has him getting considered for some of the NHL’s end-of-season awards.
A Dominating Week
Kucherov paced the NHL with three goals and 11 points in three games to overtake Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (30 goals and 109 points in 74 games) for the Art Ross Trophy race lead. He notched a goal and two assists, his 13th three-point performance of the campaign, in a 6-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 25. Kucherov then registered consecutive four-point games for the sixth time in his career, posting a goal and three assists in both an 8-0 triumph versus the Utah Hockey Club on March 27 and a 5-3 win over the New York Islanders on March 29.
The 31-year-old Kucherov, who has recorded at least three points in three straight contests for the fourth time in his career and has accumulated 17 points during an eight-game point streak dating to March 15, tops the league with 109 points through 69 total appearances this season.
Recognition for his outstanding play also gets him noticed for consideration for some of the NHL’s season awards.
Making His Case for End-of-Season Awards
The reigning Art Ross Trophy winner (144 points in 81 games in 2023-24) also ranks among the 2024-25 NHL leaders in power-play assists (1st; 33), power-play points (1st; 40), three-point games (1st; 15), assists (2nd; 76), four-point games (2nd; four), game-winning goals (t-2nd; nine), even-strength assists (3rd; 43), even-strength points (3rd; 69), multi-point games (t-4th; 29), shots on goal (9th; 238) and even-strength goals (t-9th; 26).
While the Art Ross Trophy is decided on ice, the award for the league’s Most Valuable Player is selected in a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers Association in all NHL cities at the end of the regular season. The NHL presented the Hart Memorial Trophy in 1960 after the original Hart Trophy was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame. The original trophy was donated to the NHL in 1923 by Dr. David A. Hart, father of Cecil Hart, former manager-coach of the Montreal Canadiens.
With the season he is having, Kucherov is making a case to be considered for this award. Currently, the Lightning’s 2011 first-round draft pick is listed as the fourth favorite to win the award. The current favorite for the Hart is Leon Draisaitl, who previously won this award in the 2019-20 season. But the odds have frequently flipped between him and Vezina Trophy favorite Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck successfully claims the 2025 Hart, he will become the first goalie to win the award since Carey Price in 2015.
Kucherov will force his way into the conversation with Draisaitl and Hellebuyck if he continues his outstanding play. He recently raised some eyebrows when he recorded his third-straight 100-plus point campaign, the fifth time in his 11-season career. In doing this, Kucherov surpassed Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin for the most by a Russian-born player. He became the 10th player in NHL history to record three straight 70-assist seasons, joining Connor McDavid as the only active players.
His play this season and the achievements he has reached recently show just how amazing of a player Kucherov has been this season and throughout his career.
