NHL Hart Trophy Odds 2026: MacKinnon Leading McDavid, Kucherov

Written by: Matthew Eichhorn Fact checked by: Jaclyn Hurst

Last Updated: April 15, 2026

Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon (-140) holds a slight lead over Conor McDavid (+175) of the Edmonton Oilers and Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov (+475) in the 2026 Hart Trophy odds. Scroll down for the latest NHL MVP odds, plus betting trends, and insights for the most prestigious of the NHL Awards handed out at the end of every season.

2026 NHL Hart Trophy Odds 🏆

Check out the latest 2026 Hart Trophy odds below, courtesy of bet365. Click on the odds to place a bet! These odds were last updated on Apr 15, 2026:

2026 NHL MVP Odds Predictions & Picks

The Hart Trophy is the NHL’s regular-season MVP award. This award is given to the best player from the regular season, voted on by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. The Hart Trophy winner is announced at the NHL Awards held after the conclusion of the NHL Playoffs.

Here are the top contenders for this year’s Hart Trophy with their latest NHL MVP odds.

Nathan MacKinnon (-140)

As a former Hart Trophy winner, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon remains the clear frontrunner in the latest 2026 NHL MVP odds as the 2025–26 regular season nears its final stretch.

MacKinnon has been an offensive powerhouse once again this year, ranking among the league leaders in goals, assists, and total points while consistently posting over 1.5 points per game. After tying Nikita Kucherov for the league lead in assists during the 2024–25 campaign, he has carried that playmaking dominance into another elite‑level season, also driving Colorado’s push up the standings and toward another deep playoff run.

👉 With the Avalanche thriving in the Central Division and MacKinnon impacting the game at both ends of the ice, his Hart Trophy odds remain the strongest in the field heading into the final weeks of the 2025–26 season.

Nathan MacKinnon to Win the Hart

Bet Now!

Connor McDavid (+175)

Connor McDavid remains a leading Hart Trophy favourite in the 2025–26 season, powering the Edmonton Oilers with his unmatched speed and playmaking that elevate every line he joins.

In the latest 2026 MVP odds, McDavid sits second behind Nathan MacKinnon but ahead of Nikita Kucherov, with his roughly 33% implied probability reflecting elite production—over 1.5 points per game—on a nightly basis. Should Edmonton clinch the Pacific Division and his point totals continue to rise, McDavid’s case could tighten even further with the regular season winding down.

👉 In a highly compressed MVP race, McDavid’s ability to dominate shifts games single‑handedly, keeping voters on edge as his combination of volume, impact, and highlight‑reel brilliance stays front‑and‑center throughout the stretch run.

Connor McDavid to Win the Hart

Bet Now!

Nikita Kucherov (+475)

As a former Hart Trophy and Art Ross winner, Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov remains a top contender in the 2026 NHL MVP race with the regular season down to its final stretch.

The Russian sniper is riding another monster 100‑plus‑point campaign, sitting among the league’s scoring leaders with 127 points (43 goals, 84 assists) and pacing the entire NHL in points per game at roughly 1.77–1.81, depending on the latest game‑by‑game update. Those totals have him firmly in the top three in the overall points race, powering the Lightning’s push toward a high playoff seed in the Atlantic Division.

👉 Kucherov’s odds are still extremely tight, giving strong betting value as Tampa readies for another deep postseason run. Among the league’s elite in total points and assists, Kucherov’s case hinges on both his individual production and his role in Tampa’s top‑tier offensive and standings profile

Nikita Kucherov to Win the Hart

Bet Now!

Best Hart Trophy Betting Sites in Canada 🍁

Hart Trophy Betting Trends 📈

• Edmonton Oilers dominance: Connor McDavid won 3 times (2017, 2021, 2023) and Leon Draisaitl once (2020), with Oilers stars frequently leading odds like McDavid at +200 preseason in 2025-26.
• Goaltenders rarely win: Connor Hellebuyck (2025) was only the second goalie in 20+ years, entering as a longshot (+1900) before closing as a favourite (+110); Carey Price (2015) was similar.
• Preseason favourites rarely win: Only 1 of last 10 (McDavid 2023) was preseason fave (+200 or shorter); most winners like Nathan MacKinnon (2024, opened +1000) and Taylor Hall (2018) surged from underdogs.
• Forwards win a lot: 9 of last 10 winners were forwards (21 of last 23 seasons), shifting odds to elite scorers like Draisaitl (-183 late 2025) or MacKinnon (-210 current).​
• There’s value in mid/longshots paying off: Trends show bettors profiting on players like Patrick Kane (2015-16), Hall, and MacKinnon by betting early on point-per-game producers overlooked in preseason.
• Favourites shorten late but volatile: Late-season leaders like Draisaitl (+130 in 2025) or Kucherov (+8000) see odds plummet with points/goals surges, but playoffs can sway voters.

How to Bet on Hart Trophy Odds in Canada 🍁

If you’re new to sports betting but want to place a bet on the latest 2026 Hart Trophy odds, then check out our simple step-by-step guide below. Here’s how to bet on the Hart Trophy in four easy steps:

1. Choose a Sportsbook.
   Scroll up for our list of the best Hart Trophy betting sites, or check out our in-depth NHL betting site reviews to find the sportsbook that’s right for you. Compare Hart Trophy odds and features across multiple sportsbooks before signing up.
2. Create an Account.
   Follow the links to begin the account creation process. Provide personal information such as your name, birthdate, and address to verify your identity and legal eligibility to bet on sports in your region.
3. Deposit Funds.
   Navigate to your sportsbook’s banking centre, find the payment method that’s best for you, and transfer funds into your new betting account to load your account balance with playable funds.
4. Place your Bets.
   Navigate to the NHL futures section of your online sportsbook, find your Hart Trophy pick, add the wager to your bet slip and sweat out your pick until the conclusion of the regular season!

How to Read Hart Trophy Odds 👓

If you’re going to bet on MVP NHL odds in 2026, you’ll need to understand how to read the odds displayed by your sportsbook. In this case, we will use American odds, as they are the most common format among bettors.

In American odds, the favourite is shown using a minus sign (-) and the underdog is shown using a plus sign (+). The minus sign indicates the amount that must be wagered to profit $100. Inversely, the plus sign indicates the profit earned by wagering $100.

Let’s break it down with an example:

• Favourite: -130 (risk $130 to win $100)
• Underdog: +130 (risk $100 to win $130)

With this being a futures betting market, most of the options will be a plus value, but down the stretch of the season, the odds on the favourite will likely be in the minus.

👉 Tip: You can bet any amount you want (small bets like $10 and $20 are perfectly fine!) and your winnings will go up or down proportionally based on the odds. Be sure to use our handy odds calculator to convert odds to American format and easily calculate your potential winnings.

Last 10 Hart Trophy Winners ⏱️

NHL MVP Award Winners by Position 🏒

NHL Teams with the Most Hart Trophy Winners 🏆

Hart Trophy Betting Tips 💡

Here are the top 3 betting tips for new bettors on the NHL Hart Trophy, tailored to maximize value while minimizing risk.

• Bet early on mid-tier forwards with point-per-game potential: Preseason favourites like McDavid (+200) often shorten to low payouts; instead, target overlooked scorers like Nathan MacKinnon (opened +1000 in 2023-24) or Kirill Kaprizov (+3000 value plays) on playoff-bound teams before surges.
• Prioritize team success over raw stats: Hart voters reward MVPs on winning squads (9/10 recent winners from playoff teams); fade solo-carry stars on bubble teams and shop lines across Canadian books like bet365 or Sports Interaction for best odds.
• Avoid heavy favourites late-season and hedge goalie longshots: Odds crash for leaders (e.g., Hellebuyck from +1900 to +110), killing value; sprinkle small bets on rare goalie contenders (+3000+) like Hellebuyck (2024-25 winner) for massive upside, hedging with 2-3 rivals.

NHL History: Why is the NHL MVP Trophy Called the Hart Memorial Trophy?

The trophy’s name comes from the man who donated it to the NHL in 1923. The Hart Trophy was donated to the NHL by Canadian Dr. David Hart, the father of a former Montreal Canadiens Head Coach and General Manager.

The original trophy was eventually retired and has been kept at the Hockey Hall of Fame since 1960. Since then, the new MVP award was coined the Hart Memorial Trophy, with the award being given out annually to the player most valuable to his team during the regular season.

More NHL Awards to Bet On

• Stanley Cup Odds
• NHL Conn Smythe Odds
• NHL Rocket Richard Odds
• NHL Art Ross Odds
• NHL Selke Award Odds
• NHL Vezina Trophy Odds
• NHL Calder Trophy Odds
• NHL Norris Trophy Odds
• NHL Lady Byng Award Odds
• NHL Jack Adams Award Odds
• NHL Ted Lindsay Award Odds