Kharlamov Trophy

Not to be confused with Kharlamov Cup.

The Kharlamov Trophy is an ice hockey award given to the best Russian player of the previous season.

The current winner, for the 2018–19 season is Nikita Kucherov.

History

The Trophy was established by Sovetsky Sport in 2002, and is named after the legendary Soviet ice hockey player Valeri Kharlamov. Presentation of the award and the ceremony are held by Sovetsky Sport every summer in Moscow.

2002–2015: Best Russian Player in the NHL

Between 2002 and 2015 only players from the NHL were eligible for the award. Voting took place at the conclusion of each season. Every Russian player, who'd played at least one game in the NHL during that season, would be allowed to name his top 3 candidates in a 1st-2nd-3rd format. Players could not vote for themselves.

The award was a de facto, Best Russian NHL player award.

2016–present: Best Russian Player in the World

Starting with the 2016 award, the voting participation as well as eligibility rules were greatly modified.

Eligibility was expanded, to any Russian player from the National Hockey League or the Kontinental Hockey League. As the KHL is a predominantly Russian league, the number of potential contenders for the award is now in the hundreds.

With the number of candidates heavily increased, the voting process was revamped as well. With the 2016 award onward, a shortlist of the 20 best players from the NHL and KHL is compiled. It is then voted on by a selection committee composed of five groups of experts, each consisting of 13 individuals, plus the past award winners.

Voting membership

1. Committee of the Russian Hall of Fame
2. Russian hockey veterans/legends
3. Group of KHL general managers
4. Russian hockey press/writers
5. Television commentators
6. Past winners of the award

List of winners

  Player is still active in the NHL or KHL

Kharlamov Trophy winners

Season	Winner	Team	League	Win #
2003	Sergei Fedorov	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	01
2004	Ilya Kovalchuk	Atlanta Thrashers	NHL	01
2005	—	—	—	—
2006	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	01
2007	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	02
2008	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	03
2009	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	04
2010	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	05
2011	Pavel Datsyuk	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	01
2012	Evgeni Malkin	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	01
2013	Pavel Datsyuk	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	02
2014	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	06
2015	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	07
2016	Artemi Panarin	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL	01
2017	Evgeni Malkin	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	02
2018	Alexander Ovechkin	Washington Capitals	NHL	08
2019	Nikita Kucherov	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL	01

See also

• Viking Award