Alex Ovechkin was named the winner of the 2024-25 Kharlamov Trophy, awarded to the Russian player deemed to be best in the world among his countrymen.
Ovechkin has now taken home the trophy nine times throughout his career, and could have more in his cabinet had Sovetsky Sport, the Russian outlet that oversees voting, not paused handing out the award for the past five years.
The trophy was first handed out to Sergei Fedorov after the 2002-03 season and is named in honor of legendary Soviet player Valeri Kharlamov. Ovechkin was named winner in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, and now 2025.
According to Sovetsky Sport, 107 respondents took part in the 2025 voting process. Among them were “journalists, bloggers, representatives of KHL clubs, heads of Russian hockey organizations, and legends of the past.”
Voters were told to rank the top three Russian players in the world, not limited to just NHL players, with three points awarded for first-place votes, two for second-place votes, and one for third-place votes.
Ovechkin finished first in voting with 314 points, Sergei Bobrovsky finished second with 184 points, and Nikita Kucherov finished third with 65 points.
Ovechkin ended this past year with 73 points (44g, 29a) in 65 games for the Washington Capitals. He finished third in the NHL in goal scoring with his 44 markers despite breaking his leg and missing 16 games. The Great 8 also broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record when he scored his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders on April 6.
Bobrovsky led the Florida Panthers to their second Stanley Cup victory in as many years, starting all 23 of Florida’s 2025 playoff games. He posted a 16-7 record during the postseason with a 2.20 goals-against average, a .914 save percentage, and three shutouts.
Kucherov was the highest-scoring player in the NHL, taking home the Art Ross Trophy for the second straight year and third time overall. The 32-year-old winger recorded 121 points (37g, 84a) in 78 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ovechkin (9), Pavel Datsyuk (2), and Evgeni Malkin (2) are the only players to have ever won the trophy more than once.
