With the NHL in the midst of revealing finalists for all of the 2025–26 regular season’s major awards, Friday brought the Hart Trophy nominees for league MVP.

To no surprise, the three announced as finalists for the Hart were Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, and Connor McDavid.

The NHL unveiled it on X (formerly Twitter).

“The Hart Memorial Trophy finalists have arrived! #NHLAwards The trophy is awarded annually to the player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,”

Kucherov, 32, had another fantastic season, racking up 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games for his fourth consecutive 100+ point campaign, leading the Tampa Bay Lightning back to the playoffs.

MacKinnon, 30, was just as spectacular, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy thanks to his 127 points (53 goals, 74 assists) in 80 games, also notching his fourth straight 100+ point season on the Presidents’ Trophy–winning Colorado Avalanche.

Meanwhile, McDavid, 29, secured the Art Ross Trophy with 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists) in 82 games played, his sixth consecutive season reaching the triple-digit mark.

All three superstars have won the award before, with MacKinnon (2023–24) the most recent to take home the honor. McDavid last won it in 2022–23, while Kucherov captured his lone Hart Trophy back in 2018–19.

It should be an extremely tight voting race between the clear-cut best players in the league this season. That said, McDavid’s late-season push to win the scoring race and carry an Oilers team without Leon Draisaitl into the postseason could have him slightly in the driver’s seat for his fourth league MVP.

The hockey world will finally learn who wins the prestigious award when the NHL Awards show takes place on Thursday, June 12, at 6 p.m. EST.

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