Nathan MacKinnon had been in charge of the NHL MVP odds for most of the 2025-26 season, so it was a surprise even to the man himself to see Nikita Kucherov win the Hart Trophy by 10 points.
Heading into 2026, Kucherov has the sixth-best odds, with youngcomer Macklin Celebrini bursting into the Top 3.
That said, McDavid and MacKinnon fill out the Top 2 spots heading into the offseason.
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 |
+650 |
| Leon Draisaitl |
+900 |
 David Pastrnak |
+1200 |
 Nikita Kucherov |
+1200 |
 Kirill Kaprizov |
+1400 |
 Auston Matthews |
+1500 |
 Jack Hughes |
+2000 |
| Cale Makar |
+2500 |
Odds courtesy of bet365, one of our best betting sites.
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 (+650). The (freshly-turned) 20-year-old scored 115 points in his sophomore season, and with the Sharks looking to improve this summer, that number could take a leap.
Reigning MVP Nikita Kucherov currently sits tied for the fifth-best odds with David Pastrnak at +1200.
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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.
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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 and the position they played.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Nikita Kucherov | Right Wing |  Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2024-25 | Connor Hellebuyck | Goalie |  Winnipeg Jets |
| 2023-24 | Nathan MacKinnon | Center |  Colorado Avalanche |
| 2022-23 | Connor McDavid | Center |  Edmonton Oilers |
| 2021-22 | Auston Matthews | Center |  Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 2020-21 | Connor McDavid | Center | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2019-20 | Leon Draisaitl | Center | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2018-19 | Nikita Kucherov | Right Wing | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2017-18 | Taylor Hall | Left Wing |  New Jersey Devils |
| 2016-17 | Connor McDavid | Center | Edmonton Oilers |
NHL MVP award winners by position
| Position | Hart Trophy awards |
|---|---|
| Center | 55 |
| Right wing | 19 |
| Left wing | 13 |
| Goalie | 9 |
| Defenseman | 7 |
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
Connor McDavid has the best odds to win the Hart Trophy.
Nikita Kucherov won the Hart Trophy in 2026.
Wayne Gretzky has won the award nine times, the most in NHL history.
