2025 NHL MVP Betting Odds

It’s hard to find many people who would argue with the fact Connor McDavid is the best hockey player on the planet right now.

But that doesn’t mean he is a lock to win the Hart Trophy. The award is handed out to the most valuable player to his team.

If you were a hockey fan in the early to mid-80s, you likely wonder why the trophy wasn’t renamed after Wayne Gretzky, as he was named MVP nine times, including eight seasons in a row from 1980 to 1987.

All-Time Hart Trophy Leaders

Player	Number of MVPs
Wayne Gretzky	9
Gordie Howe	6
Eddie Shore	4
Connor McDavid	3
Alex Ovechkin	3
Mario Lemieux	3
Bobby Clarke	3
Bobby Orr	3
Howie Morenz	3

Forwards win this award the majority of the time. In fact, over the last 50 years, a defenseman has won the Hart Trophy just once.

If you guessed Chris Pronger back in 2000, you are right. During that same stretch, a goalie was given the honor on four separate occasions, including Dominik Hasek in back-to-back seasons in the late 90s.

Check out our list of favorites below. But spoiler alert – they are all forwards.

2024 Hart Trophy Favorites

Nikita Kucherov (+300) – Tampa Bay Lightning

It’s hard to believe the Lightning forward’s lone Hart Trophy came back in 2019.

Especially considering he’s coming off the best season of his career in which he recorded 144 points, including 100 assists.

That marked the second time he has led the NHL in scoring. Over the last six seasons, he has averaged a point and a half per game.

Only McDavid averaged more. Kucherov remains one of the most dangerous and skilled players in the entire league.

Connor McDavid (+390) – Edmonton Oilers

He has made it clear that individual awards are not his priority and that winning the Stanley Cup is his only focus.

With that said, he is a three-time Hart Trophy winner and five-time Art Ross Trophy winner. He has reached the 100-point mark seven times, including a career-high 153 in 2022-2023.

McDavid finished last season with 132 points, including 100 assists. The scariest part of this is that he is still in the prime of his career.

Kirill Kaprizov (+450) – Minnesota Wild

Since entering the league, the Wild forward has dazzled many with his talent.

After winning the Calder Trophy, as rookie of the year, in 2021, Kaprizov has put together three consecutive 40-plus goal campaigns.

And he came bursting out of the gates this season with 21 points through 10 games. He may be a dark horse, but don’t discount this quiet superstar.

Nathan MacKinnon (+500) – Colorado Avalanche

The 2024-2025 campaign marks the 12th of his career, and it seems like he’s only getting better.

After reaching the 100-point mark for the first time two seasons ago, MacKinnon followed that up with a 140-point season last year, earning his first Hart Trophy.

Since entering the league, only McDavid and Sidney Crosby have more points than MacKinnon, who remains one of the fastest players in the game.

Artemi Panarin (+650) – New York Rangers

At age 33, Panarin remains one of the best offensive players in the league. His 49 goals and 120 points last season were both career highs.

Heading into this season, the Russian superstar has averaged more than a point per game for seven consecutive years.

He is arguably the best player on arguably the NHL’s best team — so that alone should put him in the mix for the award.

Auston Matthews (+1200) – Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews scored 60 goals during the 2021-2022 season en route to winning the Hart Trophy.

Two seasons later, the Leafs forward found the back of the net 69 times and wasn’t even named a finalist for the award.

It goes to show you the depth of offensive talent across the NHL. Regardless, Matthews has proven to be one of the league’s top goal scorers in large part due to his incredible shot.

Leon Draisaitl (+1600) – Edmonton Oilers

In each of his last six seasons, Leon Draisaitl has recorded at least 100 points on five occasions. The lone year he didn’t, he finished the year with 84 points in just 56 games.

The Oilers forward is often said to be playing in the shadow of teammate Connor McDavid but has proven that he is one of the elite players in the league.

Entering this season, his 643 points since the 2018-2019 season are second-most behind… you guessed it, McDavid.

*odds courtesy of FanDuel

An Important Tool To Help With Your Bets

Would you like an advantage when it comes to making NHL prop bets? It’s hard to match up against sportsbooks with all the research they put into making betting lines.

But there are resources out there that can help you, including our GIFT page, giving stats to bet on Goal in the First Ten Minutes in the NHL.

This tool will give you knowledge and stats to help you make an educated decision. Check it out to give yourself an edge in winning your wager.

Let’s Go Shopping!

Who do you like to win the Hart Trophy this year? Regardless of who you think will win the award, it’s important you don’t settle on the first set of odds you see.

Shopping around gives bettors a chance to earn more money. Nathan MacKinnon’s odds of winning the MVP are different depending on what betting website you are looking at.

Who wouldn’t want to get him at the highest odds possible? So, shop around for your Best Odds and get every edge you can over the sportsbooks.

Also, check out our other dedicated NHL futures betting articles:

• Playoffs Betting Odds
• Vezina Trophy Odds
• Norris Trophy Odds