Leon Draisaitl led the NHL in points last year, racking up 110 points over 71 games to win the Hart Trophy as the league’s most valuable player. But, heading into the 2020-21 season, sportsbooks say Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid leads his teammate in the next NHL MVP odds race.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists McDavid as a +450 favorite to win the Hart Trophy next season.
McDavid, Draisaitl Lead Potent Oilers Attack
McDavid has lived up to his billing as the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. In five seasons, McDavid has scored 162 goals and racked up 307 assists while making the All-Star Game four times. He’s ranked in the top five in the MVP voting in each of the past four seasons, winning the Hart Trophy in 2016-17.
The 23-year-old superstar is just entering his prime, and should be an MVP candidate for several more years. But last year, Draisaitl outperformed his teammate on his way to winning the Hart Trophy.
| Hart Trophy Odds (via DraftKings Sportsbook) |
| Connor McDavid: +450 |
| Nathan MacKinnon: +500 |
| Leon Draisaitl: +1000 |
| Auston Matthews: +1000 |
| Artemi Panarin: +1000 |
| Nikita Kucherov: +1100 |
| Elias Pettersson: +1600 |
| Jack Eichel: +1700 |
| Brayden Point: +1700 |
Draisaitl took advantage of the fact that he and McDavid led two different lines for the Oilers, putting enormous pressure on opposing teams. While McDavid typically matched up against first-line competition, Draisaitl dominated during second-line opportunities, or as the second option when the two ended up on the ice together.
In that environment, Draisaitl led the league with 67 assists, while also tallying 43 goals on the year, earning his second All-Star Game berth. An already elite player, Draisaitl won his first Hart Trophy and could be poised to do so again next season.
FanDuel lists Draisaitl as the +1000 third choice to win the MVP award next year, equal with Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers.
MacKinnon Among Top Hart Trophy Contenders
Nathan MacKinnon (+500) represents the closest competition for McDavid in the Hart Trophy race. The 25-year-old Colorado Avalanche center scored 35 goals and picked up 58 assists on his way to finishing as the runner-up in last year’s MVP voting. MacKinnon led the NHL in shots in each of the past two seasons, and figures to put up big numbers for a Colorado team that should contend for the Stanley Cup in the coming season.
“I feel great,†MacKinnon told The High Button Podcast. “It’s all about the Cup for me, and I think for guys on the team. We feel good, man. I guess we’re the favorites, whatever, this season. I guess it’s a shortened year, if we ever get this thing going, but we’re excited.â€
DraftKings lists the Avalanche as the +650 favorite to win the Stanley Cup next season, ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning (+750) and Vegas Golden Knights (+900).
Other top contenders for the Hart Trophy include Nikita Kucherov (+1100), Elias Pettersson (+1600), Jack Eichel (+1700), and Brayden Point (+1700).
