After Cooper and Vasilevskiy Win Big, Is It Finally Kucherov’s Turn?

Originally written for Tampa Bay Sports Journal.

The Tampa Bay Lightning enjoyed a productive offseason week filled with celebrations, milestones, and plenty of conversation about the NHL’s biggest awards.

The headlines began with Jon Cooper finally capturing the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year. In many ways, it felt long overdue.

Cooper’s Case

After 14 seasons behind the Lightning bench, two Stanley Cup championships, three Eastern Conference titles, and years of sustained excellence, Cooper finally added the one trophy that had eluded him. It was his third nomination and, as the saying goes, the third time proved to be the charm.

While the recognition is well deserved, the timing raises a key question: why now for Cooper, and what does it say about the wider awards picture in Tampa Bay?

Another finalist, Lindy Ruff, orchestrated one of the NHL’s most remarkable turnarounds this season. Ruff transformed the Buffalo Sabres from a struggling franchise into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, leading them to an Atlantic Division title, 50 regular-season wins, and their first playoff appearance in 14 years. That contrast helps explain why the vote drew attention, especially after Tampa Bay’s other disappointing first-round playoff exit.

It also shows why many online reactions questioned the voting results. Cooper’s body of work has been worthy of the award for years, but this season did not necessarily feel like the strongest case of his career. The larger point is that the award debate is as much about timing as it is about resumes.

If Cooper’s victory sparked debate, Andrei Vasilevskiy’s Vezina Trophy win left very little room for argument.

Vasilevskiy was the clear choice and earned his second Vezina Trophy after another dominant season. He finished one win shy of the 40-win mark while posting elite numbers across the board: a 2.31 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, two shutouts, two assists, and 3,430:45 minutes played.

His performance served as another reminder that the Lightning’s championship window remains open as long as Vasilevskiy is protecting the crease.

However, the NHL awards season also brings another familiar question in Tampa Bay: What does it mean for Nikita Kucherov’s Hart Trophy case?

Does the recognition for Cooper and Vasilevskiy mean Nikita Kucherov will once again be overlooked in Hart Trophy voting? Too many trophies for one U.S.-based team?

Kucherov’s Case

Kucherov was one of three finalists for the 2026 Ted Lindsay Award, which ultimately went to Connor McDavid as the league’s most outstanding player, as voted by fellow NHL players. Yet his Hart Trophy history remains one of the league’s most puzzling storylines.

In 2023-24, Kucherov led the NHL with 144 points, recording 44 goals and 100 assists while finishing four points ahead of Nathan MacKinnon to claim the Art Ross Trophy. Despite leading the league in scoring, he did not win the Hart Trophy.

The following season, he again captured the Art Ross Trophy with 121 points in 78 games, finishing five points ahead of MacKinnon. Once again, the Hart Trophy went elsewhere.

This season, Kucherov produced another spectacular campaign, finishing second in NHL scoring with 130 points, including 44 goals and 86 assists, trailing only Connor McDavid.

Will that be enough at last?

The voting process often leaves room for interpretation. Statistics matter, team success matters, narrative matters, and sometimes those factors seem to carry different weight from year to year. That subjectivity continues to fuel the debate over Kucherov’s candidacy, which is why the question remains open.

What remains undeniable is Kucherov’s value to the Lightning.

Among the league’s superstar forwards, few players carry a larger share of their team’s offensive responsibility. Tampa Bay’s success often begins and ends with No. 86. His creativity, vision, and ability to dictate the pace of a game remain the driving force behind the Lightning attack.

In many ways, that dependence is both a strength and a weakness for Tampa Bay. When Kucherov is at his best, the Lightning can compete with anyone. When opponents find ways to neutralize him in the postseason, the offense often struggles to find answers.

If Kucherov can’t find his game-changing rhythm in the playoffs, the Lightning rarely have someone else capable of carrying the same offensive burden.

As Tampa Bay celebrates a week of well-earned awards, one question remains unanswered: when will the NHL finally recognize Kucherov’s value with another Hart Trophy? If this season was not enough, what will be?

For Lightning fans, the debate is far from over. And neither is Kucherov’s case.