The Hart Trophy is the oldest individual accolade in the NHL, dating back to 1924. Awarded to the player deemed to be the most important contributor to his team during the regular season, the Hart Trophy recipient immediately becomes part of NHL royalty. With names like Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr also engraved on the trophy, winning it is a tremendous honour and is also one of the more fascinating futures options available at Bodog Sportsbook.
In recent past, the Hart Trophy has been awarded to forwards who are among the league leaders in points. Nikita Kucherov won it last season as the points leader, having posted 41 goals and 87 assists. However, the top point scorer isn’t always a lock to win the trophy. In 2017-18, Taylor Hall ranked sixth in the league in points (39 goals and 54 assists), but took home the Hart because he was the highest-scoring player on his team by a whopping 41 points and single-handedly led New Jersey to a playoff berth just one year after they finished last in the Eastern Conference.
If you’re looking into best NHL future odds and how to bet on the 2020 Hart Trophy winner, you’re in the right spot. We’ll walk you through all of the 2020 Hart Trophy betting options, including favourites and potential underdogs, for you to consider prior to picking your own 2020 Hart Trophy favourites.
2020 NHL Hart Trophy Favourites
Connor McDavid +350 2020 Hart Trophy odds
The Edmonton Oilers’ captain has led the league in scoring in two of the last three seasons and won the Hart Trophy in 2016-17 as a 20-year-old. There’s no question that the Oilers will only go as far as McDavid can take them, so if Edmonton returns to the playoffs this year, McDavid will likely be a lock on the odds to win 2020 Hart Trophy for the second time in his young career.
Nikita Kucherov +550 2020 Hart Trophy odds
As the defending champ, Nikita Kucherov is arguably the most dangerous offensive player in the NHL today. However, he’s also surrounded by tremendous talent on the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it’ll be tough to duplicate his dominant 128-point season from a year ago. If he does, Kucherov will become one of the most prolific scorers of this generation and will likely repeat as the Hart winner.
Sidney Crosby +700 2020 Hart Trophy odds
A two-time Hart Trophy winner, Sidney Crosby is no stranger to league dominance; however, Crosby hasn’t won since 2013-14 and hasn’t been in the top-five in scoring since 2016-17. That doesn’t mean the Halifax native doesn’t have a shot—he’ll just need to rekindle his offensive dominance from years past.
2020 NHL Hart Trophy Contenders
Auston Matthews +950 2020 Hart Trophy odds
If Auston Matthews wins the Hart Trophy this season, it’ll likely be followed by a Stanley Cup parade in Toronto. What Leafs fans are hoping for, and what Matthews will need in order to have a chance at the trophy, is to play a full season. The 22-year-old hasn’t played in more than 68 games in each of his last two seasons due to injuries.
Alex Ovechkin +1000 2020 Hart Trophy odds
The Great 8 has won more Hart Trophies than any other active player, with three on the shelf. At 34-years, Ovechkin continues to defy age; he has led the league in goals scored in six of the last seven seasons. But Ovi hasn’t won since 2012-13, and he’d need an unprecedented statistical year combined with team success to capture his fourth Hart.
Nathan MacKinnon +1000 2020 Hart Trophy odds
Nathan MacKinnon has been one of the more consistent offensive producers in the NHL over the past two years, scoring 97 and 99 points respectively. It appears as though his Aves are ripe for a big season as well, so the Canadian may be primed for a breakout season followed by hardware.
2020 NHL Hart Trophy Underdogs
Brad Marchand +4000 2020 Hart Trophy odds
With the core of the Boston Bruins getting older, Brad Marchand will be relied on more and more to carry the offensive load in Beantown. Marchand has led the B’s in points in three-straight seasons, but it wasn’t until last season (36 goals, 64 assists) that he became Boston’s clear-cut best player.
Artemi Panarin +4500 2020 Hart Trophy odds
The New York Rangers’ biggest offseason signing promises to make a big difference in the Big Apple. Artemi Panarin is coming off of a career season that saw him register 87 points with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Rangers are still very much in a rebuild mode, but if Panarin can put the Rangers on his back and get them into the playoffs, the newest Ranger may be in line for an MVP acknowledgement.
Mark Stone +6000 2020 Hart Trophy odds
In his first full season with the Vegas Golden Knights, Mark Stone could be a difference maker in the desert. Stone will need to separate himself from a stacked forward group in Vegas to get the attention needed to garner Hart support.