2026-27 NHL MVP Odds: Celebrini Sits in Top 3 Following Contract Extension

Macklin Celebrini has had a hell of a year, whether it be skating next to Connor McDavid in the Olympics or scoring 115 points in just his second pro season.

Regardless, all that has led the young Sharks forward to landing the highest AAV in NHL history at 18.8 million per year, and sitting third in NHL MVP odds for the upcoming season.

While Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon remain ahead of him, Celebrini is poised to become the new face of the league.

Here are the latest NHL odds surrounding the Hart Trophy.

Odds to win 2026-27 NHL MVP award

Player
Connor McDavid	+250
Nathan MacKinnon	+350
Macklin Celebrini	+640
Leon Draisaitl	+900
David Pastrnak	+1200
Nikita Kucherov	+1200
Kirill Kaprizov	+1400
Auston Matthews	+1500
Jack Hughes	+2250
Cale Makar	+2500

Odds courtesy of Bet99, one of our best betting sites.

Latest Hart Trophy Odds analysis

When you're the best player in the world, you typically get picked to be the favorite regardless of the competition. Despite not winning it for a third year in a row, McDavid is a constant centerpiece of the MVP race up until the final game.

As is MacKinnon, who opened slightly behind the Oilers' superstar. A new face has entered the fray, however, with Macklin Celebrini rounding out the Top 3 (+640).

The (freshly turned) 20-year-old scored 115 points in his sophomore season, and the Sharks had an impressive draft that could push them into playoff contention.

If San Jose can make the postseason while getting similar production from its young superstar, Celebrini could get serious looks.

Reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov currently sits tied for the fifth-best odds with David Pastrnak at +1200.

Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account

Covers NHL betting tools

• Daily NHL matchup info
• The latest NHL odds 
• Free NHL picks

Understanding NHL MVP odds

Most sportsbooks will display odds in the American format as listed above. When the regular season is nearly finished, and a consensus has emerged, you might see a player with a minus sign (-) ahead of his odds, like this:

• Connor McDavid -190

The (-) means that McDavid is the odds-on favorite, and a bettor would need to wager $190 to win $100. Other contenders in the MVP race might have plus (+) odds to win.

• Nathan MacKinnon +255

Here, a bettor stood to profit $255 for every $100 wagered. 

If American odds aren't your thing, simply use a tool like our odds converter to switch the odds to decimal or fractional format. Most online sportsbooks also give you the option to change the odds format that you see.

NHL Hart Trophy trends

• The last player to win the Hart Trophy and Stanley Cup in a single season was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis (2004).
• Carey Price was the last goaltender (2015) to win the MVP award before Connor Hellebuyck did in 2024-25.
• Alexander Ovechkin was the last player to repeat as the Hart winner (2008 and 2009).
• Centers have won six of the last 10 MVP awards.
• The last time a defenseman won the Hart Trophy was Chris Pronger back in the 1999-00 season.

NHL Hart Trophy history

A quick look at the last 10 NHL MVPs, the position they played, and their opening odds.

Season	Player	Position	Opening odds
2025-26	Nikita Kucherov	Right Wing	+700
2024-25	Connor Hellebuyck	Goalie	+15000
2023-24	Nathan MacKinnon	Center	+1000
2022-23	Connor McDavid	Center	+300
2021-22	Auston Matthews	Center	+900
2020-21	Connor McDavid	Center	+600
2019-20	Leon Draisaitl	Center	+4000
2018-19	Nikita Kucherov	Right Wing	+1500
2017-18	Taylor Hall	Left Wing	N/A
2016-17	Connor McDavid	Center	+600

NHL MVP award winners by position

Centers won the Hart Trophy 17 times over an 18-year period from 1979 to 1996. Wayne Gretzky personally skated away with the league's MVP award eight straight times during that era.

Hart Trophy Odds FAQs

Pages related to this topic