Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov won his second career Ted Lindsay Award on Wednesday, beating out Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
The award is presented "to the most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA."
Kucherov's teammates surprised him with the trophy.
Nikita Kucherov was surprised by his @TBLightning teammates with the Ted Lindsay Award, presented by the @NHLPA "to the most outstanding player in the NHL".
— NHL (@NHL) June 4, 2025
Watch the #NHLAwards on June 12 at 6p ET on @NHL_On_TNT and @Sportsnet before Game 4 of the #StanleyCup Final! pic.twitter.com/2pWKIVbPUM
The 31-year-old also took home his third career Art Ross Trophy, pacing the league with 84 assists and 121 points this season. He's a finalist for the Hart Trophy, too, which will be announced June 12.
Kucherov won his first Ted Lindsay Award back in 2018-19. He also won the Hart and Art Ross Trophies that season, as he led the league with 87 assists and 128 points.
Kucherov is the 12th player in NHL history to win multiple Ted Lindsay Awards. The others are Wayne Gretzky (five), Mario Lemieux, Connor McDavid (four), Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr, Guy Lafleur, Alex Ovechkin (three), Marcel Dionne, Phil Esposito, Dominik Hasek, and Mark Messier (two).
The Ted Lindsay Award has been handed out since 1971. It was known as the Lester B. Pearson Award until 2009-2010.
