- Nathan MacKinnon has regained control at the top of the Hart Trophy betting odds markets.
- MacKinnon is on a torrid pace, which includes a point in all 30 home games in the 2023-24 season.
- The Colorado Avalanche have the second-shortest Stanley Cup odds, thanks to the center’s recent performances.
The duel between Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Toronto’s Auston Matthews for the Hart Memorial Trophy is boiling over in March. Due in part to MacKinnon’s 30-point home-point streak, the Avalanche center is now the betting favorite to win the 2023-24 Hart Trophy. MacKinnon (+175) has a slight edge over Matthews (+180) for the NHL’s MVP honors at Bovada as of March 6.
At +175, MacKinnon has an implied probability of 36.4% to win the Hart Trophy. As we head into the final stretch of the regular season, the odds suggest the race for the award will be close and any mistake could be fatal.
The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid opened as a heavy favorite to win the Hart Trophy. In July, he was available at even odds, with MacKinnon a mere observer with +900 odds. However, MacKinnon has witnessed his Hart Trophy odds skyrocket from +900 in the pre-season to +175 in March.
At the moment, McDavid (+350) has the fourth-best odds, behind MacKinnon, Matthews, and Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov (+300). Any four of these players could capture the Hart Trophy, with the Russian a compelling option at +300. The next month and a half will determine the MVP of the NHL, so the race is just entering its final stage.
Hart Trophy Odds Shorten Amid Quest to Break Gretzky Record
Many of Wayne Gretzky’s records in the NHL are going to be the toughest to beat in all of professional sports. Most of the icon’s statistical feats are safe from being broken in the foreseeable future.
However, MacKinnon is closing in on one of Gretzky’s records that has stood since the 1988-89 season, namely the longest season-opening points streak that stands at 40 right now.
If MacKinnon secures at least one point in the Avalanche’s next game against the Detroit Red Wings, he would tie Mario Lemieux’s 31-game home point streak set in 1995-96 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. MacKinnon would then have a chance to break Lemieux’s record on Friday night at home against the Minnesota Wild.
Currently, MacKinnon is tied with Kucherov for the most points in the NHL at 105. Additionally, the center is fourth in scoring with 39 goals. Matthews’ 53 goals appear out of reach for the rest of the field, as the Toronto Maple Leafs’ star inches closer to the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
MacKinnon has recorded 39 goals and 66 assists for a total of 105 points with the Avalanche through 63 games in 2023-24.
Avalanche Contenders to Win Second Stanley Cup in Two Years
The ultimate goal for MacKinnon is to hoist the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career in June. Despite missing winger Gabriel Landeskog to injury for the second consecutive season, MacKinnon has shouldered the load in Colorado.
As of early March, the Avalanche trail only the Oilers for the shortest odds to win the Stanley Cup. According to Bovada, the Oilers are +700 favorites, while the Avalanche are in contention at +800.
This is despite the fact that the Avalanche are currently behind the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars in the Central Division. With a record of 38-17-9 and 85 points, the Stars have a two-point lead over the Jets. The Avalanche are in third, with a mark of 38-20-5 and 81 points.
Since Feb. 15, the Avalanche have been up and down, with wins in five of their previous nine assignments. There is slight hope in Colorado that Landeskog could return in time for the 2023-24 NHL Playoffs. The team has maintained hope throughout the season and continues to keep the door open to a Landeskog return in the playoffs.
A healthy Landeskog, paired with MacKinnon in his current Hart Trophy form, would likely push the Avalanche to being the odds-on favorites to win the Stanley Cup this spring. The race is wide open, so the best is yet to come.
