Kucherov, MacKinnon, McDavid Vie for Art Ross Trophy

Lightning, Avalanche and Oilers stars also chasing Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals

Mar. 25, 2026 at 4:00am

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Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers are the top three scorers in the NHL this season, each with over 100 points. They are all in contention for the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the league's leading scorer, as well as the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals.

Why it matters

The race for the Art Ross and Richard Trophies is one of the most compelling storylines of the NHL season, with three of the league's top offensive talents battling it out. Their performances are drawing comparisons to the legendary Gordie Howe's pursuit of Maurice "Rocket" Richard's single-season goal record in 1952-53.

The details

Kucherov, a two-time Art Ross winner, has been on a torrid pace, recording 95 points (29 goals, 66 assists) in just 45 games from November 22 to March 20 - the most by any player in a 45-game span in a single season since Mario Lemieux in 1995-96. McDavid, MacKinnon, and Kucherov have each scored at least 40 goals, putting them in contention for the Richard Trophy along with Dallas' Jason Robertson and Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.

  • Kucherov had 95 points (29 goals, 66 assists) in 45 games from November 22 to March 20.
  • Over 20 games from January 20 to March 20, Kucherov had 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists), McDavid had 30 (7 goals, 23 assists) and MacKinnon 29 (7 goals, 22 assists).

The players

Nikita Kucherov

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who is a two-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer.

Nathan MacKinnon

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who is in contention for the Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophies.

Connor McDavid

A forward for the Edmonton Oilers who is considered one of the best offensive players of his generation and is also in contention for the Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophies.

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What they’re saying

“We were strong at every single position, and I was at the top of my game. Matching the Rocket's 50-goal record was at the head of my to-do list.”

— Gordie Howe

“The biggest story of that regular season (1952-53) was Howe's prodigious scoring. From the opening game, Gordie operated at full speed and by February he had scored his 200th career goal.”

— Roy MacSkimming, Author

“Howe had a couple of good chances, and I made some big saves.”

— Gerry McNeil, Montreal Canadiens goaltender

The takeaway

The race for the Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophies is shaping up to be one of the most exciting storylines of the NHL season, with three of the league's elite offensive talents - Kucherov, MacKinnon, and McDavid - battling it out. Their performances are drawing comparisons to the legendary Gordie Howe's pursuit of Maurice "Rocket" Richard's single-season goal record, underscoring the enduring legacy of these prestigious awards.