NHL MVP Odds: Nathan MacKinnon Has A 45% Chance To Win NHL MVP
NHL MVP Odds: Nathan MacKinnon Has A 45% Chance To Win NHL MVP
The 2023-24 NHL season is just over halfway completed and we're beginning to see the NHL MVP odds sort and shift into place. The Hart Trophy is the most coveted award in the NHL, given to the most valuable player based on regular season performance. Currently, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche is the outright betting favorite at +120 odds, followed by Connor McDavid at +240 and Nikita Kucherov at +380.
MacKinnon leads the NHL in assists (51) and total points (77), while he's also tied for the sixth most goals (26) scored at this juncture of the season. Auston Matthews and David Pastrnak are the two NHL MVP prospects who lead the league in goals scored, but clearly, this stat doesn't reign supreme compared to other ways players can contribute to their team's success on the ice.
Connor McDavid is quietly sitting in second-place in the Hart Trophy odds, as Edmonton continues to surge and win games after hitting a rough patch earlier in the year. McDavid has 59 total points, including 16 goals, which is seven fewer than every other player with at least 57 points tallied halfway through the season.
Conversely, Nikita Kucherov, who rounds out the top three MVP prospects right now, is second in total points (76), with 12 more goals scored than McDavid. Kucherov also ranks first in goals created (27.9) and total points per game (1.65), clearly demonstrating his value to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL MVP ODDS
Click here for the latest NHL MVP odds
| Player | Odds | Implied Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon | +120 | 45.45% |
| Connor McDavid | +240 | 29.41% |
| Nikita Kucherov | +380 | 20.83% |
| David Pastrnak | +1000 | 9.09% |
| Auston Matthews | +1300 | 7.14% |
| Artemi Panarin | +1700 | 5.56% |
NHL MVP ODDS Breakdown
MacKinnon's a sizable favorite to win the Hart Trophy this season, especially if he continues his frenzied pace of production. The Avs' center has recorded at least one point in 11 consecutive games, including six games with two or more points.
Colorado is currently one point behind Winnipeg for first place in the Central Division, going 7-3 straight up in their last 10 games played. Winning games goes a long way to help a player hoist the Hart Trophy, so as of right now, wagering MacKinnon's +120 odds is good value considering this number could quickly slide into minus odds.
We've spent time analyzing McDavid and Kucherov, who have helped their team in different ways this season. Now, let's take a moment to focus on the final three MVP prospects atop the current odds race.
David Pastrnak is red-hot lately, scoring five goals in his last three games, including a hat trick, while notching two or more points in four consecutive contests. Boston is comfortably at the top of the Atlantic Division with 65 total points, enjoying a +38 goal differential in large part due to Pastrnak's 30 goals scored this season. He's third in goals created (26.3), third in total goals (30), and ninth in assists (36), so he's certainly a candidate to invest in at +1000 when exploring the NHL futures markets for Hart Trophy winners.
The other two NHL MVP prospects are also located in the Eastern Conference, as Auston Matthews and Artemi Panarin have been lighting the lamp with regularity since the season began. Matthews in particular is a magnet when it comes to scoring goals, leading the NHL with 38 thus far. Toronto's top-line center may go a couple of games without scoring, but he'll then make up for it with a multi-goal effort, as Matthews has 12 games with multiple goals scored this season. The Maple Leafs' lackluster defense and inability to close games may cost Matthews a legitimate shot at the Hart Trophy, but +1300 is tempting to sprinkle a quarter unit on.
Artemi Panarin rounds out the top six NHL MVP prospects right now, recording 28 goals, tied for fourth-most in the league. Panarin's assists aren't nearly as high as his counterparts, but he does rank sixth in goals created, with 24.1 this season. Playing on the New York Rangers helps his cause though, as the Rangers are in first place in the Metropolitan Division, despite going 4-5-1 in their last ten games played. Panarin's ability to finish is his strength, but his numbers don't quite pop as much when compared to the other players in the NHL MVP race.
Right now, the Hart Trophy is MacKinnon's to lose, so invest a couple of units at +120 odds while it's still available. The other prospect to target right now, based on individual performance and the quality of his team, is David Pastrnak at +1000 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook.
NHL Odds
Matt is an avid writer, editor, and researcher. He enjoys analyzing the game within the game which is fantasy sports and sports betting. Music is another constant in his daily life. Matt loves spending time with his wife and three pets. He likes to read, listen to podcasts, and is constantly motivated to create the most accurate and engaging content in the sports betting industry.