NHL MVP Showdown: Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor Hellebuyck clash for 2025 Hart Trophy ahead of Game 4

Just before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final gets underway on Thursday night, the NHL will hand out one of its biggest individual honors—the Hart Trophy for league MVP. And this year’s shortlist tells the story of a season packed with dominance, consistency, and standout performances from three very different players: Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov, Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl, and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck.

All three have a case. Only one gets the trophy.

Nikita Kucherov, Leon Draisaitl, and Connor Hellebuyck headline 2025 NHL Hart Trophy race as MVP winner to be revealed before Game 4

This year’s Hart Trophy finalists don’t fit a single mold—and that’s what makes the race so compelling. You’ve got a scoring machine, a two-way force, and a goalie who flat-out stole games all season long.

Let’s start with Connor Hellebuyck. The Jets goaltender didn’t just have a good year—he had one for the history books. He was the backbone of a Winnipeg team that won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular season record and also locked up the William Jennings Trophy for the fewest goals allowed.

Hellebuyck is already a near-lock to win his third Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, and now he’s got a shot at something far rarer.Only five goaltenders have managed to win the Vezina and Hart in the same season. The last to do it was Carey Price back in 2015. Before him? Jose Theodore in 2002. Dominik Hasek pulled it off twice in the late ‘90s. Jacques Plante did it in ’62. That’s the kind of company Hellebuyck would be joining if his name is called Thursday night.

Then there’s Nikita Kucherov. Tampa Bay’s winger led the entire league in points with 122, earning him the Art Ross Trophy for the second time in his career. His peers also voted him the most outstanding player, handing him the Ted Lindsay Award. Kucherov’s already got a Hart Trophy on his shelf from 2019. Another one would only add to his legacy.

Leon Draisaitl rounds out the list, and he’s been nothing short of vital for the Edmonton Oilers. While Connor McDavid tends to get the headlines, Draisaitl is the guy who keeps the machine running.

He racks up points, wins battles, and never lets off the gas. Year after year, he’s right in the middle of the MVP conversation—and this year is no different.

Final Verdict: Who will claim the 2025 NHL Hart Trophy?

So when the lights go up at center ice on Thursday night, and before the puck drops on Game 4, one of these three will step into the spotlight. Whether it’s Hellebuyck’s season-defining dominance in goal, Kucherov’s offensive wizardry, or Draisaitl’s all-around excellence, the NHL’s 2025 MVP will be someone who left a lasting imprint on this season.Each took a different path, but they all ended up in the same place—front and center in the race for the Hart.Also Read: Why Danielle Smith and PM Mark Carney are skipping the Edmonton Oilers' biggest game yet