Might Nathan MacKinnon unseat Connor McDavid for the coveted Hart Trophy?
It’s certainly possible as McKinnon has set himself apart as the odds-on favorite in the NHL MVP race.
As we head down the back half of the season, here are the latest NHL MVP odds and our best bets.
NHL MVP Odds 2024
NHL odds used for these MVP best bets are from Tuesday, Feb. 13, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
- Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche (-120)
- Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (+260)
- Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers (+425)
- Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs (+1300)
- David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins (+1300)
- Artemi Panarin, RW, New York Rangers (+2500)
- Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers (+3500)
- Quinn Hughes, D, Vancouver Canucks (+4000)
- Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks (+4000)
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets (+4000)
Who Will Win NHL MVP?
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche (-120)
MacKinnon has been a Hart Trophy finalist three times and a runner-up twice, losing to Taylor Hall, McDavid, and Leon Draisaitl.
Last season, MacKinnon finished fifth in the voting despite notching a career-high 111 points.
The time has finally come for MacKinnon to get the flowers he deserves. The Colorado star is having another outstanding year, ranking top five in the NHL in goals (32), assists (53) and points (85). It’s no coincidence that Colorado’s spent most of the season at or near the top of the Central Division and is a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
[pick id="171341"]
NHL MVP Favorites
Nikita Kucherov, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning (+260)
Kucherov claimed his first MVP in 2019, and he has a decent shot at adding to his collection as seemingly only MacKinnon stands in the way.
Kucherov leads the NHL in both assists (56) and points (89) and is tied for third in goals (33). With points in 42 of 52 games, he’s also been remarkably consistent.
The fact that Tampa Bay is merely sixth in the Eastern Conference may hurt Kucherov’s push, but he’s still productive enough to be in the conversation as a finalist.
Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers (+425)
McDavid is in rarefied company as one of only five players to win the Hart three times within his first eight seasons, joining Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Clarke, Bobby Orr, and Alex Ovechkin.
That said, he might have to wait for his fourth.
- See where the Oilers stand in our latest Stanley Cup odds.
Despite Edmonton’s remarkable resurgence, McDavid’s candidacy appears to be losing steam. After opening as a +100 favorite, he’s fallen to third on the board and well behind MacKinnon.
Voter fatigue hasn’t been an issue before with McDavid, but perhaps we’ve become a bit too accustomed to his brilliance.
NHL MVP Contenders
Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs (+1300)
With a league-leading 42 goals through 49 games, Matthews is on pace to obliterate his career-high of 60. Matthews reached that mark in both his MVP 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Being the Maple Leafs’ undisputed star comes with a lot of clout, but only when things are going well.
If Matthews can maintain his offensive production and help Toronto climb further up in the standings in the Eastern Conference, he’ll have a strong case at winning another Hart.
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David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins (+1300)
It seemed inconceivable that Boston could win another Presidents’ Trophy following the retirements of Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, yet they’re right in the mix.
- Wager on hockey daily with our NHL parlay picks.
How? Look no further than Pastrnak, who ranks third in the league in both goals (33) and points (75) and fifth in power-play goals (11). He’s been invaluable.
NHL MVP Sleepers
Artemi Panarin, RW, New York Rangers (+2500)
Panarin isn’t producing at the same level he was earlier this season when he reeled off a 15-game point streak. Even so, Panarin’s numbers remain on par with the league’s best. He’s top 10 in goals (31), points (68) and shots (201).
With the Rangers battling Boston and Florida for the No. 1 seed in the East, Panarin should have plenty more opportunities down the stretch to show his worth.
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Sam Reinhart, C, Florida Panthers (+3500)
Reinhart has been on a tear with 16 goals in 16 games since the calendar flipped to 2024. With 39 goals overall, he may be Matthews’ biggest challenger for the Rocket Richard Trophy.
Expect Reinhart to cool off a bit, but at 35-1 odds he’s worth at least a sprinkle, especially on the contending Panthers.
Previous NHL MVP Winners
2023: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
2022: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
2021: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
2020: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers
2019: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
2018: Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
2017: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
2016: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
2015: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens
2014: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins