It looks like it’s time for some NHL futures with the hockey season only a few weeks away. Why not start at the top of the trophy case and look at FanDuel’s odds to win the Hart Trophy — the NHL’s version of the MVP. Of course, Conner McDavid is atop this list but maybe not as far ahead of the field as you might think. McDavid is the favorite to win the Hart at +460. Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon is right behind the Oilers superstar sitting at +600. Somewhat surprisingly, sitting in third on the list is the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin at +1000. McDavid’s powerplay partner and defending Hart winner Leon Draisaitl sits at +1200, followed by a threesome of centers sitting at +1500. Leafs forward Auston Matthews, Lightning star Brayden Point and American Jack Eichel will battle it out.
As you can notice, the top contenders are all forwards as it’s much more challenging for a goalie to win it since they have their own award. The NHL, of course, gives the league’s best goalkeeper the Vezina trophy each year.
The forward who is most likely to win the award is, of course, McDavid, but there really isn’t much value there. He probably will very well win the prize, but there will be some competition from Matthews. The Toronto Maple Leaf was on a wicked goal-scoring streak last season, and the team should be even better this year. Matthews missed a few games last year but was still able to score 47 goals in the shortened season. He should play most of the games in this shortened NHL season and should be the NHL’s points leader this year. The Scottsdale, Arizona native has some great value at +1500, and for the money, he is the pick for this year’s Hart Trophy winner.
