Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov wins 2025 Ted Lindsay Award

The Ted Lindsay Award “is presented by the NHL Players’ Association to the ‘most outstanding player in the NHL,’ as voted on by members of the (National Hockey League Players’ Association),” according to a league statement. It’s the second time Kucherov has won the award, the first time coming in 2018-19. He was also a finalist in 2018-19.

The news comes after Kucherov finished the regular season with a league-leading 121 points (37 goals and 84 assists), taking home the Art Ross Trophy for the third time in his 11-year NHL career. In 2024-25, Kucherov became just the 21st player in NHL history to record five 100-point seasons.

Through 11 NHL seasons, Kucherov has 357 goals and 637 assists for 994 points in 803 career regular-season games, all with the Lightning. The 31-year-old continues to be a playoff machine, scored 53 goals and 118 assists for 171 points in 152 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He helped Tampa Bay win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

Drafted in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Kucherov spent three years between Russia’s KHL and its developmental system before joining the QMJHL for one season. In 33 combined games with the Quebec Remparts and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, Kucherov had 29 goals and 35 assists for 63 points. He also scored nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 14 games.