Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid earned his first career Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League‘s Most Valuable Player last year, in just his second season in the league. McDavid also sits as the favorite on the odds to win the Hart Trophy once again in 2017/18.
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com
McDavid is the +150 favorite on the Hart Trophy odds for the season ahead, with NHL training camps getting underway this week. The young superst
ar led the league in scoring last year with 30 goals and 100 points in 82 games, and led his Oilers back into the playoffs. McDavid’s rookie campaign in 2015/16 was cut short due to injury; he had 48 points in those 45 games.
Pittsburgh Penguins centre Sidney Crosby finished second behind McDavid in the Hart Trophy voting last season, having already picked up the award twice in his career (2006/07 and 2013/14). Crosby is McDavid’s closest competitor on the Hart Trophy odds for the season ahead at +250, as he looks to lead his Penguins to a third consecutive Stanley Cup victory.
It’s then Toronto Maple Leafs centre Auston Matthews third at +850 on the Hart Trophy odds, after he had 40 goals and 69 points last season to win the NHL’s Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie. The last Maple Leafs player to win the Hart was Ted Kennedy in 1954/55.
Two former Hart Trophy winners then round out the top five players on the betting prop, with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals at +900 and Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks at +1400. Ovechkin has won the Hart Trophy three times in his career, in 2007/08, 2008/09, and 2012/13. Kane took home the award after the 2015/16 campaign.
Forward Vladimir Tarasenko of the St. Louis Blues is then at +1500 on the odds, with 2011/12 Hart Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin of the Penguins at +1800, and 2014/15 Hart Trophy winner Carey Price of the Montreal Canadiens joining John Tavares of the New York Islanders at +2000. Steve Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars join Erik Karlsson of the Ottawa Senators in the next tier at +2500 on the Hart Trophy odds board.
