“No MacKinnon”- Nikita Kucherov faced mixed fan reactions after dominating the NHLPA Player Poll with nearly half the votes

On April 15, 2025, National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) released its latest player poll. The vote reflected something that made many hockey enthusiasts surprised. Nikita Kucherov, is a Tampa Bay Lightning star, he was chosen as the top playmaker in the league by the other players. It turned out to be a viral post where a huge amount of reactions of fans came online, particularly among the fans of Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, as they had other expectations.


Nikita Kucherov picked most of the votes in the 2023-24 NHLPA Player Poll playmaker category. He was picked by 49% of the NHL players, ahead of other leading players such as Connor McDavid who polled 20.16% and Leon Draisaitl with 6.83% of votes. The results of the polls were released on April 15, 2025, on the official NHLPA account.

Kucherov played an extraordinary season. He tallied 144 points and topped the league with 100 assists. He also broke a new NHL single-season record of most assists registered by a winger. Most assume that Nikita Kucherov's on-ice IQ and passing acumen made him the most popular among players.
Victor Hedman stated during a press meeting in Tampa Bay on the day of the poll. “His consistency year in and year out sets him apart from others.”
Lots of fans were also in accord with the players' vote. Some of the comments on social media were,
"Kucherov is the best player in the league"

"Totally agree, Kucherov is a beast on the ice."


Although Nikita Kucherov was named the greatest playmaker by voting, followers of Nathan MacKinnon posted their views on the web. MacKinnon played well as well. He earned 140 points with 51 goals and 89 assists. He was rewarded with the the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award as recognition of his achievement for awarding most valuable and the best player in the league.
The NHL gave out both these awards on June 27, 2024, at their ceremony in Las Vegas. Winning both is no small feat, especially the Ted Lindsay, since that one’s voted on by fellow players
Nevertheless, some fans were shocked that MacKinnon was not selected as the leading playmaker.
Some of the reactions included "No MacKinnon?"

and “Ridiculous!" appeared in comments when the poll announcement went up online.

A few even indicated that MacKinnon may be being overlooked once more for other honors.
The NHLPA Player Poll is conducted annually to get the players' opinions about their teammates and rivals. The results this year have been bringing up a lot of discussions, particularly regarding how various awards and polls indicate players' ability.
Also Read: Nikita Kucherov: Inside The NHL Star’s Lifestyle And Smart Investments