The Hart Memorial Trophy is an annual award for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League. The key here is "MVP to his team," as it is not strictly about who gets the most goals or points. Take last season’s winner, Nathan MacKinnon, as a prime example of the definition. He was second in the league in points, didn’t have the most goals, but was far and above the most valuable to his team with 140 points—36 more than his next most productive teammate. It truly is about heart.
Let’s take a look at some of the Hart Trophy favorites at this point of the season. Check the full odds on BetOnline.
Connor McDavid +250
Among active players, only Alexander Ovechkin has as many Hart Memorial Trophies as Connor McDavid. While the Edmonton captain may not have won it last year, it’s still early enough in the season for him to validate these odds and show why he’s the favorite to win the NHL MVP this year.
Even with an early-season injury giving hope to others in the race, McDavid has bounced back with a vengeance. In his last eight games, he’s roasted the league at a 2.25 points per game pace. He sits 12th in the league with 28 points in 19 games, which is impressive by any standards, but this is McDavid we’re talking about. To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best—and he’s not even the leading scorer on his team at Thanksgiving. That goes to Leon Draisaitl, who has 30 points on the year thus far. That being said, there’s still much more hockey to be played, and I have a feeling McDavid is just starting to heat up.
Kirill Kaprizov +300
Kirill “The Thrill” has put the Minnesota Wild on his back this season after coming out of the gate blisteringly hot. Kaprizov had just a single game without a point in October and had seven multi-point games in the first month of this season. The left winger is contending for the league lead in goals, assists, and overall points at this juncture.
He’s on pace for 140 points this year if he can keep up this pace and deserves to have some respect put on his name.
Nathan MacKinnon +450
The reigning and defending NHL MVP picked up right where he left off last season, getting on the scoresheet in his first thirteen consecutive games and putting up twenty-five points during that stretch. Since then, it’s been hot and cold for Nathan MacKinnon on an injury-riddled Colorado Avalanche squad, leading to some mediocre play. At the Thanksgiving mark, his 28 assists led the league, while his 35 points were tied for second with Kaprizov.
2024-25 Hart Trophy Odds
- Connor McDavid +250
- Kirill Kaprizov +300
- Nathan MacKinnon +450
- Nikita Kucherov +550
- Jack Eichel +1400
- Cale Makar +1600
- Connor Hellebuyck +1600
- Artemi Panarin +1800
- Leon Draisaitl +2800
- Sam Reinhart +3300
- Auston Matthews +5000
- Jack Hughes +7500
- Mikko Rantanen +7500
- Alexander Ovechkin +7500
- Igor Shesterkin +7500
- Kyle Connor +7500
- Sidney Crosby +8000
- Matthew Tkachuk +10000
- David Pastrnak +10000
- Jason Robertson +10000
- Tage Thompson +10000
- Ilya Sorokin +10000
- Aleksander Barkov +10000
- Connor Bedard +10000
- Brady Tkachuk +10000
- Brayden Point +10000
- Jake Guentzel +10000
- William Nylander +10000
- Quinn Hughes +12500
- Roope Hintz +15000
- Adam Fox +15000