Trent Reinsmith
It’s not often that one team has two players in the running for the Hart Trophy — which is the annual award for the, “player adjudged to be the most valuable to his team,” but this year, the Edmonton Oilers have two of the top favorites in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Also in the running is the resurgent Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals. Meanwhile, the Colorado Avalanche have a dark horse contender on their hands with Cale Makar.
Let’s look at the Hart Cup betting odds and picks. Also, be sure to check out our NHL betting tips page for tips and advice on how to wager on hockey.
2022 Hart Trophy Odds
| To Win 2021-22 Hart |  |  |
| Connor McDavid | +170 | +232 |
| Alexander Ovechkin | +275 | +460 |
| Leon Draisaitl | +600 | +660 |
| Nathan Mackinnon | +1000 | +3800 |
| Auston Matthews | +1200 | +1725 |
| Cale Makar | +2500 | +6000 |
| Mikko Rantanen | +2800 | +11000 |
| David Pastrnak | +3300 | +6400 |
| Artemi Panarin | +3300 | +4400 |
| Andrei Vasilevskiy | +3300 | +6400 |
Connor McDavid looks to repeat
The soon to be 25-year-old Connor McDavid is in the running to claim his third Hart Trophy and second consecutive MVP award this season. The Edmonton Oilers forward is tied for the league lead in scoring with his teammate Leon Draisaitl with 53 points. The winner of the Hart in 2021 and 2017, McDavid is projected to score 132 points this season. No player has scored as many points in a season since Mario Lemieux netted 161 in 1995-96. McDavid is first in the NHL in assists with 34 and eighth in goals at 19. He is second on time on ice among forwards at 22:30 per game.
Two gorgeous assists on two Connor goals this afternoon. 🔥#LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/ncG8GRFZUQ
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) December 31, 2021
The one thing that could hurt McDavid in his hunt for a third Hart Trophy is that Draisaitl is also having a fantastic season and could take some top spot votes from him.
Leon Draisaitl searches for second Hart
If McDavid falters this season, there’s a good chance that the Edmonton Oilers will still make it three years in a row with a player from that club winning the Hart. Leon Draisaitl, who claimed his first Hart in 2020, is the Oilers player who could get that spotlight.
Draisaitl is tied with McDavid for the NHL lead in points with 53 and leads the league in goals at 26. The Oilers forward is also the NHL leader among forwards in time on ice at 22:55.
The @NHL's leading scorer doing @NHL leading scorer things. #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/2hZ9nuWqpA
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) January 6, 2022
Like McDavid, Draisaitl is projected to score an enormous number of points, in his case 128.
Ovechkin searches for Hart No. 4
Alexander Ovechkin has three Hart Trophies to his name. He went back-to-back in 2008 and 2009 and then claimed his third in 2013. Now, at 36, when most NHL players are slowing down and headed toward retirement, Ovechkin is making a legit case for a fourth Hart Trophy.
Ovie, who is in the hunt to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goal-scoring record, is second in goals this season with 24. If he keeps up the pace he’s on, Ovechkin will score 58 goals this year. He’s only bested that number once in his career and that was in 2008 when he ended the season with 65. His second-highest goal-scoring total was the 56 he scored in 2009. He won the Hart in both those years. If Ovechkin claims the goal-scoring title in 2022, he has a pretty good chance of winning the Hart. Ovechkin last hit 50 goals in 2019 when he potted 51 in 81 games.
CAPS TODAY: Since Alex Ovechkin was named captain on Jan. 5, 2010, the Capitals have the most points (1,176) and are tied for the most wins (535) in the NHL. More info on the #Caps captain and Caps Clips at https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/ARuq3hGU3I
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) January 5, 2022
Ovechkin is fourth all-time in goals with 754. He has to pass Jaromir Jagr (766) and Gordie Howe (801) before he can wrestle with Gretzky’s total of 894.
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