By Mayer Fink
The Hart Trophy is given to the NHL’s most valuable player. Throughout the history of the NHL, the best players ever to play the game have won the award multiple times, highlighted by Wayne Gretzky winning the Hart Trophy nine times from 1979 to 1990.
This season there are a few frontrunners for the award, with Connor McDavid leading the way and trying to make his case that he will be one of the best players in the history of the game. That being said, there are plenty of intriguing players that can easily win the award and provide great odds in the process.
McDavid is head and shoulders above the rest of the league and is the odds-on favorite to win the Hart Trophy. Last season, McDavid scored an unprecedented 105 points in 56 games to win the second MVP award of his young career. The Oilers’ 24-year-old scorer looks to win the Hart again this season, but considering voter fatigue, McDavid might need to have another historic season to make him the undisputed winner.
CONNOR. MCDAVID.
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 6, 2021
WHAT. A. GOAL. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/ujq0WeMSbw
Nathan MacKinnon has consistently been one of the best players in the NHL in the past few seasons, and after finishing as a runner-up in each of the last two years, this could be the season MacKinnon takes home the award. As the best player on a line with two excellent scorers in Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, and playing on one of the best teams in the NHL in the Colorado Avalanche, it would come as no surprise if MacKinnon wins the award with an exceptional season. MacKinnon is a viable betting option considering his skillset in the offensive zone and scoring ability.
good lord Nathan MacKinnon pic.twitter.com/cUOyOa4aYq
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) May 31, 2021
Auston Matthews led the NHL with 41 goals last season while playing on the top line for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Matthews is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL and would have won the award last season if it weren’t for McDavid’s historic year. This season, Matthews looks to finally break away from the pack and win the Hart Trophy and can easily win the award with another strong goal-scoring season. It will be hard to top last season, but playing on a talented Maple Leafs team, Matthews can become a favorable bet as he continues to progress into one of the league’s best players.
William Nylander (@wmnylander) ➡️ Auston Matthews (@AM34) pic.twitter.com/2RGbhKHT52
— NHL (@NHL) November 3, 2021
In the 2019-20 season, Pastrnak looked poised to win the Hart Trophy with 48 goals and 47 assists in 70 games. Unfortunately, Pastrnak couldn’t play the final 12 games with the NHL season being canceled due to the pandemic, and the Bruins’ top scorer finished as a runner up to Leon Draisaitl of the Oilers as a result. The Bruins look poised to finish the season as one of the best teams in the NHL, and Pastrnak remains one of the best offensive players in the NHL, making him a viable outsider to win the Hart Trophy this season.
This move by David Pastrnak was nasty 🔥
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 24, 2021
(via @NHL)pic.twitter.com/yN0LzMwHzV
Aho isn’t the first skater that comes to mind when thinking of elite NHL players. However, Aho has progressed into one of the best young forwards in the game and plays a big role on the Carolina Hurricanes’ top line. The Hurricanes can have a surprisingly good season and with the 24-year-old skater progressing into one of the league’s top players, and a breakout season can make Aho a dark horse to win the Hart Trophy and provide a great payout.
Sebastian Aho (11-15—26) with another beauty last night. 🔥@SebastianAho | @Canes pic.twitter.com/spW0YPwv9A
— NHL (@NHL) March 17, 2021
Picture Credit: Wikimedia
