The 2025-26 NHL regular season concludes with Nikita Kucherov leading the Hart Trophy race after a late surge. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward captured roughly 50% of first-place votes in the final Professional Hockey Writers Association tally, edging out Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon in what voters called the tightest MVP race in years.

Kucherov's 128 points in 74 games powered the Lightning to a playoff berth despite numerous injuries to key players. His 1.73 points-per-game average led the NHL, with 41 points separating him from Tampa Bay's next-highest scorer Jake Guentzel. Meanwhile, McDavid's 133 points in 80 games kept the Edmonton Oilers in playoff contention without Leon Draisaitl, while MacKinnon's 126 points and league-leading 52 goals weren't enough to maintain his frontrunner status.

The Norris Trophy race saw Zach Werenski overtake Cale Makar with 53% of first-place votes. The Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman's 81 points ranked second among NHL defensemen, playing a league-high 26:34 minutes per game. Werenski's late surge came despite Columbus's slide in the standings, with voters praising his two-way excellence as the team's clear MVP. The final awards will be announced after the Stanley Cup playoffs conclude.