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NHL odds surrounding the 2025-26 NHL MVP have been Nathan MacKinnon’s for almost the entire season, and barring anything crazy, he should close there.
MacKinnon is -135, while Nikita Kucherov fell from +115 to +165. According to the books, this is a two-man race.
Check out the updated NHL MVP odds below!
Odds to win 2025-26 NHL MVP award
| Player |  |
Movement |
|---|---|---|
 Nathan MacKinnon |
<<-135>> | ▲ |
 Nikita Kucherov |
<<+165>> | ▼ |
 Macklin Celebrini |
<<+640>> | ▲ |
 Connor McDavid |
<<+950>> | ▲ |
Odds as of 3-23. Odds from BET99, one of our best betting sites. Sign up with our BET99 promo code, or get one of our other sportsbook promos.
Odds movement
4/2: Nathan MacKinnon started to feel the heat from Kucherov, and he’s responded with five goals in five games. That’s helped separate him from Kuch just a bit, but the race isn’t over just yet.
Both Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini are still listed, but the lack of team success is keeping their odds high.
3/23: Nathan MacKinnon backers look away, things might get ugly. The race for the MVP has gotten interesting, with books teetering on favoring Tampa’s superstar over Nate.
Kuch now leads the league in points, and while his Bolts don’t possess the same shiny record Colorado does, they’ll win more than enough games to sway voters.
3/4: Nathan MacKinnon is holding on to the top spot, but there’s been a big shakeup under him. Macklin Celebrini has fallen into third, while Nikita Kucherov has leapfrogged both Celebrini and Connor McDavid.
While Nate is still -190, it’s important to note he was once as short as -450. The race is far from over.
NHL MVP prediction
I’m totally fine with taking MacKinnon at -190. He still paces the NHL in goals, and McDavid is the only player with more points on the season. MacKinnon is the best player on the best team in the league, and he’ll win his second Hart Trophy in three years.
| Bet | Odds | Bet date | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan MacKinnon |
-190 | March 4 | 2 |
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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:
- Nathan MacKinnon -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.
- Nikita Kucherov +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.
Hart Trophy betting splits
- Highest ticket percentage: Nathan MacKinnon (16.7%)
- Highest handle percentage: Nathan MacKinnon (32.8%)
- Biggest liability: Macklin Celebrini
Data courtesy of BetMGM.
Popular NHL futures markets
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 last season.
- 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 recent NHL MVPs and the position they played.
| Season | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2015-16 | Patrick Kane | Right Wing |  Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2014-15 | Carey Price | Goalie |  Montreal Canadiens |
| 2013-14 | Sidney Crosby | Center |  Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2012-13 | Alexander Ovechkin | Right Wing |  Washington Capitals |
| 2011-12 | Evgeni Malkin | Center | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2010-11 | Corey Perry | Right Wing |  Anaheim Ducks |
| 2009-10 | Henrik Sedin | Center |  Vancouver Canucks |
| 2008-09 | Alexander Ovechkin | Right Wing | Washington Capitals |
| 2007-08 | Alexander Ovechkin | Right Wing | Washington Capitals |
| 2006-07 | Sidney Crosby | Center | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2005-06 | Joe Thornton | Center |  Boston Bruins/  San Jose Sharks |
NHL MVP award winners by position
| Position | Hart Trophy awards |
|---|---|
| Center | 55 |
| Right wing | 18 |
| 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.
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