Steve Starr
- BetOnline favors Connor McDavid (+225) to win his third Hart Memorial Trophy in the past six seasons
- Alex Ovechkin (+350) is seeking his fourth NHL MVP award and his first one since 2013
- Auston Matthews (+775) and Johnny Gaudreau (+3500) have the Leafs and Flames in contention to win their respective divisions
While Connor McDavid is widely regarded as the best hockey player in the world, there is no way he should be a +225 favorite to claim his third-career Hart Trophy.
With his teammate Leon Draisaitl outpacing him in goals and points and the Oilers currently outside of playoff position, there are far better bets on the board.
Before we check out the latest NHL MVP betting odds and make our picks, here’s where you can find the top betting sites for NHL hockey in 2022 and smart wagering tips in our 2022 Stanley Cup betting guide.
2022 Hart Trophy
 |
|
| Connor McDavid | +225 |
| Alex Ovechkin | +350 |
| Jonathan Huberdeau | +550 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +700 |
| Auston Matthews | +775 |
| Kirill Kaprizov | +1600 |
| Igor Shesterkin | +1800 |
| Nazem Kadri | +2000 |
| Nathan MacKinnon | +2200 |
| Mikko Rantanen | +2500 |
| Alexander Barkov | +3300 |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy | +3300 |
| Johnny Gaudreau | +3300 |
| Artemi Panarin | +4000 |
| Brad Marchand | +4000 |
Two Stars on One Bad Team
Connor McDavid (+225) is averaging 1.43 points-per-game through 45 contests. Undoubtedly impressive, but a far cry from his 1.88 ppg average from last year’s MVP season. The 25-year-old’s two Hart Trophies also corresponded with his only two postseason appearances, so interim coach Jay Woodcroft will need to get Edmonton back in playoff position for McDavid even to be considered.
There’s also the Leon Draisaitl (+700) factor. The big German had nine more goals than his Canadian teammate heading into Tuesday’s action, along with one more point. While the Oilers’ poor performance also makes Draisaitl a longshot to win the award, at least he’s priced like one.
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl 'all-in' on Jay Woodcroft's new ideas. https://t.co/3UknkjRuC7 pic.twitter.com/wQwf82x6Rl
— theScore (@theScore) February 11, 2022
Other Top Contenders
Three-time Hart winner Alex Ovechkin (+350) is currently fifth in league scoring with 60 points, and his 29 goals put him just four back in the Rocket Richard race. The 36-year-old has carried his team through injuries and shaky goaltending, but his candidacy could continue to fade if his Capitals (6-9-2 in 2022) don’t get out of their recent funk.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Huberdeau (+550) is enjoying the best season of his career, with a 1.36 points-per-game average and a league-leading 47 assists. Team success is central to the 28-year-old’s MVP candidacy as the Panthers are currently holding down the top spot in the East.
Alex Ovechkin and the @Capitals, who have a history of big games on Super Bowl Sunday, are set for a matinee against the Senators at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBCSWA, SN1. How many points does @ovi8 collect?
More #NHLStats: https://t.co/N212igzBHq pic.twitter.com/HZcxcdHK6J
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 13, 2022
Hart Trophy Best Bets
Auston Matthews (+775) is available at even better odds at some sportsbooks so be sure to shop around. The 2021 Rocket Richard Trophy winner’s 32 snipes have him just one behind Draisaitl and Chris Kreider for the league lead, but more importantly, he’s drawing praise for his two-way play this season.
The Maple Leafs sit only four points back of the Panthers in the Atlantic with a game in hand. If Toronto claims the division (and even perhaps the Eastern Conference) and Matthews leads the NHL in goal scoring once again, it’s hard to see anyone else taking home the Hart.
"He's really transformed into a leader in this locker room."
On Auston Matthews and why this is the season he has taken charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs: https://t.co/1BOdbRk5Et pic.twitter.com/bVtP1qWB6X
— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) February 14, 2022
Johnny Gaudreau (+3300) also makes for an intriguing longshot. Available at 75-1 at some books, “Johnny Hockey” is sixth in the league in points (58) and his Flames are trending towards a Pacific Division title, just one point back of the Golden Knights with three games in hand.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
